Getting there & onward travel
On board in Hull in the evening, on the road in the Netherlands the next morning. Here is how to get to the ferry and how to carry on from Europoort.
- About 40 minutes from Europoort to central Rotterdam
- Just over an hour to Amsterdam by car
- Mini cruise coaches to Amsterdam and Rotterdam
To the ferry and beyond Europoort
Table of Contents
Getting to Hull
By car, take the M62 and then the A63 into Hull. From the A63 the signs for King George Dock lead to the terminal. With a vehicle you need to be there at least 90 minutes before departure.
By train, Hull Trains runs direct services from London King's Cross to Hull every day, with the fastest journeys taking about 2 hours 30 minutes. From Hull Paragon Interchange a taxi takes about 15 minutes to the terminal. Foot passenger check-in opens at 15:00. Address, parking and the walk-on procedure are on the Hull ferry terminal page.
Arriving at Europoort
The ferry doesn't dock in central Rotterdam. It arrives at Europoort, in the port area on the North Sea coast, in the morning. Disembarkation starts about 15 minutes after docking, and then you go through the Schengen border check, where you are registered in the EES. The Netherlands is an hour ahead of the UK, so put your watch forward. The check-in page explains the border check, and the Rotterdam ferry terminal page describes the terminal itself.
Driving on to Rotterdam and Amsterdam
From Europoort the A4 and A20 take you towards Rotterdam. The drive to Rotterdam city centre takes about 40 minutes, and Amsterdam is just over an hour away.
Driving in the Netherlands
- Drive on the right, and take extra care at junctions and roundabouts until you are used to it.
- UK identifier: a number plate with the UK identifier and the Union flag needs no sticker. Otherwise put a UK sticker on the car. You also need your driving licence, the V5C log book and your insurance certificate, but no green card. The full list is on the check-in page.
- Trams and cyclists: trams have priority over other traffic. Cyclists and moped riders are everywhere, and cycle lanes cross roads and junctions, so take extra care when turning. Speed cameras are widely used, and traffic offences can bring heavy on-the-spot fines.
Low-emission zones apply to foreign cars too, and you don't need to register in advance. Petrol cars can enter every zone. For diesel cars it depends on the emission standard:
- Rotterdam: no low-emission zone for cars.
- Amsterdam: blue zone, diesel cars need Euro 5 or higher.
- The Hague: green zone, diesel cars need Euro 4 or higher.
- Utrecht and Arnhem: blue zones, diesel cars need Euro 5 or higher.
- Eindhoven: a blue zone for cars starts on 1 January 2027.
The zones and their rules are on milieuzones.nl.
Without a car
Without your own vehicle, you have two options from Europoort: a taxi, or a mini cruise, which includes a P&O Ferries coach to Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The Amsterdam coach takes about 90 minutes to De Ruijterkade next to Amsterdam Centraal, and the Rotterdam coach about 45 minutes to Conradstraat next to Rotterdam Centraal. The packages are on the mini cruise page.
The coaches don't take animals, so with a dog and no car you need a taxi from Europoort. The pets page covers the rules for dogs.
The way back
The ferry leaves Europoort in the evening and docks at Hull the next morning. With a vehicle, be at the terminal at least 90 minutes before departure. On the mini cruises the last coach back to the ferry leaves Amsterdam and Rotterdam at 17:00. The departure time for your date is in the timetable.
FAQ
Questions about getting there and travelling on
Can I take the ferry from Hull to Amsterdam? +
The P&O ferry from Hull sails overnight to Europoort, in the port area of Rotterdam. From there Amsterdam is just over an hour by car. Without a car, take a taxi, or book a mini cruise, which includes a coach to Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
How long does it take from Europoort to Amsterdam? +
Just over an hour by car. On the Amsterdam mini cruise the coach takes about 90 minutes and stops at De Ruijterkade, next to Amsterdam Centraal. Everything about the package is on the mini cruise page.
Can I drive my car into Amsterdam's low-emission zone? +
A petrol car can enter all Dutch low-emission zones. In Amsterdam a diesel car needs emission standard Euro 5 or higher. You don't need to register in advance, and Rotterdam has no zone for cars.
How do I get from Europoort without a car? +
By taxi, or on a mini cruise with the P&O Ferries coach to Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The coaches don't take animals, so with a dog you need a taxi or your own vehicle.