Travel Harwich to the Hook of Holland by Ferry

London to Amsterdam Return with One Ticket on a Stena Line Ferry

Dec 31, 2008

For those planning to 'go Dutch' with a trip from England to the Netherlands there is happily a cheaper, more direct and somewhat more relaxing alternative travel route.

A service connecting Harwich with the Hook of Holland run by Stena Line is the ideal solution for those on a budget planning a quick trip across the North Sea but dreading the drabness of the traditional Dover-Calais route, or the infamous Channel Tunnel.

Stena Line

Stena Line trumpets its twice daily service as holding all the cards: cheaper, more direct and generally more convenient. It is difficult to argue against either, with fares from £58/$84 return delivering passengers to the Hook in a little over six hours, with bustling Rotterdam and The Hague then situated just half an hour away and historic Amsterdam little more than an hour.

Although cars are catered for, Stena Line tempts travellers with its ‘Rail and Sail’ option, offering travel to Harwich from a number of English stations, the ferry trip itself and onward travel to any city once in the Netherlands on one combined ticket.

Harwich International

Ferries depart Harwich International twice daily, generally at around 6am and 8.30pm, with departures the other way leaving the Hook at 11.30am and 7pm. Rail terminals lie directly next to the ports in both countries.

The day service offers slightly cheaper fares than the overnight service, which requires a compulsory cabin reservation. There is no shortage of entertainment once out at sea either, with a range of facilities including two restaurants and bars, a cinema and shop.

There is a choice of fares split between economy and flexi, the former generally lower priced but with less flexibility, for example incurring fees for amendment after booking.

Rail and Sail

Example fares with ‘Rail and Sail’ include £70/$101.50 return (day sailing) from any of five major National Express East Anglia stations - London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester and Cambridge - to any Dutch station and £114/$165 including cabin cost (overnight sailing).

For those bringing more than just themselves onboard, cars (from £49/$71 one direction), motor homes (£65/$94) and caravans (£91/$132) carry additional costs. All these prices include one passenger.

However the real advantage lies in leaving vehicle worries behind and making use of the integrated service that can transport from London to Amsterdam on one ticket.

Hook of Holland

For those planning a trip to the Netherlands this Spring, the Harwich-Hook route offers a genuine escape from the torrid, often lengthy trawl experienced on the Dover-Calais route and cuts out unnecessary time spent travelling through Belgium just to get there.

For a complete list of details, prices, timetables and special offers leading into the New Year, visit the Stena Line site here.

The copyright of the article Travel Harwich to the Hook of Holland by Ferry in Netherlands Travel is owned by Andrew Latham. Permission to republish Travel Harwich to the Hook of Holland by Ferry in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.