Ferry from the UK to Antwerp
Three crossings land within two hours of Antwerp, even though no ferry from the UK sails there directly. From the north, P&O’s overnight boat from Hull to Rotterdam Europoort leaves the shortest drive, about an hour and a half. From the east, Stena Line from Harwich to Hook of Holland lands you around an hour and three quarters away. From the south, Dover to Calais or Dunkirk is quickest overall, with Antwerp about two hours up the motorway.
Routes
There is no direct ferry on this route. To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend instead.
Our experience
We’ve sailed with every ferry operator on the Dover–Calais route ourselves. We were particularly impressed by P&O Ferries thanks to its competitive fares, modern ships, clean facilities, spacious outdoor decks, and overall comfort. For most travellers heading to Belgium, this is often the fastest and most affordable option.
Our experience
We found this to be a pleasant and relaxed crossing with a convenient schedule. It’s particularly well suited to travellers with a car or motorcycle, as onward travel options for foot passengers are more limited.
Our experience
The daytime crossing takes up most of the day, but it’s often one of the more affordable options. Low-cost cabins are frequently available, giving you a private space to relax during the journey.
Who sails the alternatives
Travellers from Northern England and Scotland can take an overnight ferry to the Netherlands. The two main options are Hull–Rotterdam with P&O Ferries and Newcastle–IJmuiden with DFDS. From both arrival ports, Antwerp can be reached relatively quickly by road or public transport.
For travellers from the Midlands and Southern England, the Harwich–Hook of Holland route with Stena Line is an excellent choice. Alternatively, you can sail from Dover with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries. These crossings to France are generally the shortest and most affordable ferry routes for reaching Belgium.
We’ve highlighted a few of the best options above, but if you’d like to explore all available crossings, take a look at our overview of ferry routes to Belgium.
Map with suggested the UK – Antwerp ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from England to Antwerp, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
From the arrival port to your destination
One of the advantages of travelling to Antwerp by ferry is that the city is relatively easy to reach from several ferry ports in the Netherlands and Northern France. The times below are approximate and intended as a quick guide only. Actual sailing schedules and driving times may vary.
- Hoek van Holland – Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes by car to Antwerp.
- Rotterdam Europoort – Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car to Antwerp.
- IJmuiden (Amsterdam) – Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes by car to Antwerp.
- Dunkirk – Approximately 2 hours by car to Antwerp.
- Calais (via Dover crossings) – Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes by car to Antwerp.
In most cases, travellers arriving in the Netherlands will find Antwerp surprisingly close. Even from the French ports used by the Dover ferries, Antwerp can often be reached within half a day of leaving Southern England.
Still weighing up your options?
We have sailed nearly every one of these crossings ourselves, and the photos on this site are our own. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.
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