Besty way to Holland?
Discussion
This weekend myself and 3 frinds booked our hotel rooms for a weekend trip to The Netherlands in July, we are going friday night, sat night an sunday night, 16th, 17th 18th of July, for a random couple of days and a big VW show on the sunday.
I am the oldest, will be 22 at the time, all of us can get greencards to drive.
we have 2 options for getting there:
1. Drive to dover, cheap ferry to Dunkirk, drive to our hotel, near Amsterdam.
2. Drive to Hull, boat to Holland, 20 mins driving on the other side.
to me it seems crazy to drive north to catch a ferry south, but none of us have even driven in europe and some of the guys would rather do most of the driving on UK shores. I'm put off by the cost of the Hull ferry, especially compared to how cheap the Dover one is, but we save a bit on fuel going via Hull...
any ideas PH?
I am the oldest, will be 22 at the time, all of us can get greencards to drive.
we have 2 options for getting there:
1. Drive to dover, cheap ferry to Dunkirk, drive to our hotel, near Amsterdam.
2. Drive to Hull, boat to Holland, 20 mins driving on the other side.
to me it seems crazy to drive north to catch a ferry south, but none of us have even driven in europe and some of the guys would rather do most of the driving on UK shores. I'm put off by the cost of the Hull ferry, especially compared to how cheap the Dover one is, but we save a bit on fuel going via Hull...
any ideas PH?
- eta - just seen the thread title. typing fail!
Edited by JB! on Monday 26th April 13:35
the time it takes going from hull can be better spent in the Amsterdam bars.
Also, the ferry to Dunkerque takes a long time. Its quicker to ferry/tunnel to calais and then drive past dunkerque.
Oh, and dont worry too much about driving on the wrong side: you wont notice it on mnotorways, so just keep your wits about you in towns and you'll be fine
Also, the ferry to Dunkerque takes a long time. Its quicker to ferry/tunnel to calais and then drive past dunkerque.
Oh, and dont worry too much about driving on the wrong side: you wont notice it on mnotorways, so just keep your wits about you in towns and you'll be fine
The drive from the Dunkirk/Calais area to Holland is really easy. It'll probably take 3.5-4 hours to get to Amsterdam, depending on traffic at Antwerp really. It's motorway all the way. The Dunkirk ferry takes a little longer than the Calais one but the drive on the mainland is 20-30 minutes less.
The Harwich to the Hook ferry is still running but it's 6 hours now the catamaran has moved to Ireland. The drive from the Hook to Amsterdam is around an hour or so and quite a lot of that is on smaller roads where you stand more chance of getting lost or confused.
Personally, I'd go via France and Belgium, it's an easy (if boring) drive and you can stop off on the way back and fill the car with wine
John
The Harwich to the Hook ferry is still running but it's 6 hours now the catamaran has moved to Ireland. The drive from the Hook to Amsterdam is around an hour or so and quite a lot of that is on smaller roads where you stand more chance of getting lost or confused.
Personally, I'd go via France and Belgium, it's an easy (if boring) drive and you can stop off on the way back and fill the car with wine
John
Edited by troc on Monday 26th April 13:43
Hugo a Gogo said:
halfway measure is harwich to hoek van holland, there was a quick(ish) catamaran but i'm not sure if they still do that
cheaper than hull though
not a bad idea.cheaper than hull though
williamp said:
the time it takes going from hull can be better spent in the Amsterdam bars.
Also, the ferry to Dunkerque takes a long time. Its quicker to ferry/tunnel to calais and then drive past dunkerque.
Oh, and dont worry too much about driving on the wrong side: you wont notice it on mnotorways, so just keep your wits about you in towns and you'll be fine
if we went from hull, we'd do a thursday night crossing.Also, the ferry to Dunkerque takes a long time. Its quicker to ferry/tunnel to calais and then drive past dunkerque.
Oh, and dont worry too much about driving on the wrong side: you wont notice it on mnotorways, so just keep your wits about you in towns and you'll be fine
thanks for the ehads up on the slow ferry.
Start looking now for cheap trips btw - you can often get some bargains on the Eurostar if you book well in advance and that's even easier - The drive in the UK is shorter and it spits you out straight on to the motorway in France.
Oh and on a less petrolheaddy note, Holland is one country where you can easily and happily get around without a car anyway so you could also think about flying over and using public transport and renting bikes (they have bike rental at all major railway stations etc). You'd get more holiday time that way. If the drive was exciting and fun, you could call it part of the holiday but the roads carefully wend their way through the most boring parts of Belguim!
Oh and on a less petrolheaddy note, Holland is one country where you can easily and happily get around without a car anyway so you could also think about flying over and using public transport and renting bikes (they have bike rental at all major railway stations etc). You'd get more holiday time that way. If the drive was exciting and fun, you could call it part of the holiday but the roads carefully wend their way through the most boring parts of Belguim!
troc said:
Start looking now for cheap trips btw - you can often get some bargains on the Eurostar if you book well in advance and that's even easier - The drive in the UK is shorter and it spits you out straight on to the motorway in France.
Oh and on a less petrolheaddy note, Holland is one country where you can easily and happily get around without a car anyway so you could also think about flying over and using public transport and renting bikes (they have bike rental at all major railway stations etc). You'd get more holiday time that way. If the drive was exciting and fun, you could call it part of the holiday but the roads carefully wend their way through the most boring parts of Belguim!
the whole point in driving is to take our cars to the MIVW show on sunday, otherwise w would be flying!Oh and on a less petrolheaddy note, Holland is one country where you can easily and happily get around without a car anyway so you could also think about flying over and using public transport and renting bikes (they have bike rental at all major railway stations etc). You'd get more holiday time that way. If the drive was exciting and fun, you could call it part of the holiday but the roads carefully wend their way through the most boring parts of Belguim!
euroboy said:
Im a season ticket holder on the Hull-Rotterdam boat and I rate it very highly although you will pay an absolute packet to sail on those dates! The boat is very nice, good restaurants and bars and a cinema and disco too. I always take the Hull ferry when time/funds allow.
Failing that id take either the chunnel or Dover Line from Dover to Dunkerque. Dover line do the best of the traditional ferries IMO, no school parties or foot passengers and free wifi on the boat; Dunkerque is more convenient than Calais too.
Harwich to HvH is one I have never tried - arrives basically on to the other side of Europoort to the Hull ferry, but I imagine Harwich is a bit of a bugger to get to, and as mentioned its a slow boat these days.
If travelling on the Hull boat i'd personally view it as part of the holiday and an opportunity for a good time -otherwise take the chunnel and failing that Doverline.
HTH
It's actually Norfolkline btw, not Doverline! Failing that id take either the chunnel or Dover Line from Dover to Dunkerque. Dover line do the best of the traditional ferries IMO, no school parties or foot passengers and free wifi on the boat; Dunkerque is more convenient than Calais too.
Harwich to HvH is one I have never tried - arrives basically on to the other side of Europoort to the Hull ferry, but I imagine Harwich is a bit of a bugger to get to, and as mentioned its a slow boat these days.
If travelling on the Hull boat i'd personally view it as part of the holiday and an opportunity for a good time -otherwise take the chunnel and failing that Doverline.
HTH
The Crack Fox said:
Why are you driving ? Parking in Amsterdam is a nightmare, flights are very cheap and convenient... Take your time on the roads abroad, esp Belgium 
I use Norfolkline, usually v good service, good luck.
I use Norfolkline, usually v good service, good luck.
JB said:
the whole point in driving is to take our cars to the MIVW show on sunday, otherwise w would be flying!
Norfolkline is our ferry of choice from dover, seriously cheap!!!JB! said:
Norfolkline is our ferry of choice from dover, seriously cheap!!!
Seconded!I use Norfolkline fairly regularly, being a Brit on the Continent.
The drive from Dunkerque to the Dam is easy, but boring, with perhaps the trickiest part being parking in the Dam. It may be cheaper (and easier?) to leave the car on the outskits (or even Schipol!) and take the train into the City.
If you have a hotel booked near Amsterdam, they will have parking there and no doubt, some kind of arrangement to bus you into town.
Other easy peasy parking is at the Arena on the A2. This is the stadium for FC Ajax.
There's a Park & Ride there (look for the <P+R> roadsigns. You can park for 6 euros a day and you get a free ride to the town center.
I used to go over from Harwich to the Hook and the Dutch motorways are very well signposted so you won't get lost going to Amsterdam.
Couple of things to watch for.
1. If you hit someone on a bike, it's your fault regardless. They have virtually total right of way and come at you from nowhere.
2. If you get in amongst the Trams in a city center, they don't stop, brake or move off the tracks for you
3. Holland has some weird "Give way to the right" rules. It depends on the road markings but don't be surprised to have cars pulling out of junctions in front of you. They won't even be looking.
4. The Police have no sense of humour whatsoever. They won't care if your're foreign or inexperienced.
5. The Dutch have a complete "me first" attitude to roads and queueing. Don't expect someone to let you in or out of a space or gap.
Other easy peasy parking is at the Arena on the A2. This is the stadium for FC Ajax.
There's a Park & Ride there (look for the <P+R> roadsigns. You can park for 6 euros a day and you get a free ride to the town center.
I used to go over from Harwich to the Hook and the Dutch motorways are very well signposted so you won't get lost going to Amsterdam.
Couple of things to watch for.
1. If you hit someone on a bike, it's your fault regardless. They have virtually total right of way and come at you from nowhere.
2. If you get in amongst the Trams in a city center, they don't stop, brake or move off the tracks for you
3. Holland has some weird "Give way to the right" rules. It depends on the road markings but don't be surprised to have cars pulling out of junctions in front of you. They won't even be looking.
4. The Police have no sense of humour whatsoever. They won't care if your're foreign or inexperienced.
5. The Dutch have a complete "me first" attitude to roads and queueing. Don't expect someone to let you in or out of a space or gap.
HD Adam said:
If you have a hotel booked near Amsterdam, they will have parking there and no doubt, some kind of arrangement to bus you into town.
Other easy peasy parking is at the Arena on the A2. This is the stadium for FC Ajax.
There's a Park & Ride there (look for the <P+R> roadsigns. You can park for 6 euros a day and you get a free ride to the town center.
I used to go over from Harwich to the Hook and the Dutch motorways are very well signposted so you won't get lost going to Amsterdam.
Couple of things to watch for.
1. If you hit someone on a bike, it's your fault regardless. They have virtually total right of way and come at you from nowhere.
2. If you get in amongst the Trams in a city center, they don't stop, brake or move off the tracks for you
3. Holland has some weird "Give way to the right" rules. It depends on the road markings but don't be surprised to have cars pulling out of junctions in front of you. They won't even be looking.
4. The Police have no sense of humour whatsoever. They won't care if your're foreign or inexperienced.
5. The Dutch have a complete "me first" attitude to roads and queueing. Don't expect someone to let you in or out of a space or gap.
cheers for the advice.Other easy peasy parking is at the Arena on the A2. This is the stadium for FC Ajax.
There's a Park & Ride there (look for the <P+R> roadsigns. You can park for 6 euros a day and you get a free ride to the town center.
I used to go over from Harwich to the Hook and the Dutch motorways are very well signposted so you won't get lost going to Amsterdam.
Couple of things to watch for.
1. If you hit someone on a bike, it's your fault regardless. They have virtually total right of way and come at you from nowhere.
2. If you get in amongst the Trams in a city center, they don't stop, brake or move off the tracks for you
3. Holland has some weird "Give way to the right" rules. It depends on the road markings but don't be surprised to have cars pulling out of junctions in front of you. They won't even be looking.
4. The Police have no sense of humour whatsoever. They won't care if your're foreign or inexperienced.
5. The Dutch have a complete "me first" attitude to roads and queueing. Don't expect someone to let you in or out of a space or gap.
the hotel is the official hotel for the show weekend, so loads of parkign carwash facilities and i presume the bar will be busy on the satruday night too!
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