...but yesterday we booked a 2 week holiday in the Netherlands for August 2026, return ferry, accommodation on a campsite, the lot!
We've never booked so early before, but we're going with our son and family and they were anxious to get everything booked and sorted ASAP.
It turns out that the Hull to Rotterdam ferry only has 6 pet-friendly cabins, so as we travel with our dogs and it's in the main holiday season, it made sense to get it booked.
It also meant we had our pick of the available accommodation.
All very different from our normal touring caravan trips - just hope we don't get a taste for it given the (to us) "how much????" prices!
We're staying at RCN Flaasbloem, in North Brabant, not far from Efteling theme park and Beekse Bergen safari park, but with other activities/visits of interest in the area too.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If the Hull ferry was cheaper we'd use it more, but then, we aren't particularly tempted by camping in the Netherlands or surrounds, plus, we are hooked on the Tunnel crossing, now we have resigned ourselves to taking 2 days to get there.
It is not a route that I would use as the crossing is too long and the drive to Hull is an additional 1.5h at least compared with Folkstone. I prefer to drive on French roads!
I still can't book the campsites in France and Germany for June 2026, despite having booked my tunnel crossings in July 2025 and also the overnight stay on UK side, hey ho!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Hull to Rotterdam would not normally be our preferred crossing, but it's 190 miles for us to Hull rather than 340 to Portsmouth or 400 to Dover, and then it's only about 60 miles to the Dutch campsite.
Son's choice, and seeing as he's paying for us, who are we to argue???
Hence why we're going in August too!
It's quite exciting to be doing something different actually (we'll still be getting our "France fix" earlier in the year) and gives me plenty of time to research the area!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by bofs on 13/10/2025
Hull to Rotterdam would not normally be our preferred crossing, but it's 190 miles for us to Hull rather than 340 to Portsmouth or 400 to Dover, and then it's only about 60 miles to the Dutch campsite.
Son's choice, and seeing as he's paying for us, who are we to argue???
Hence why we're going in August too!
It's quite exciting to be doing something different actually (we'll still be getting our "France fix" earlier in the year) and gives me plenty of time to research the area!
Enjoy the madness that is August!!!
I am off to Haaren, NL in June 2027 as part of my European tour to visit friends in the area.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We will go to France in early June probably for about 6 weeks. May visit Netherlands and Germany as we were stationed near the NL border when I was in the RAF. We go Dover to Calais but stop over in Kent on way there for a night.Retired so no rush!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
For us, it’s 280 miles to Hull, 520 to Dover. Hull route costs more but add the diesel to get to the channel & it takes an extra day both ways.
So we would go from Hull.
There are currently talks to establish a DFDS ferry from Rosyth to Dunkirk, but I’m not holding my breath. There was a link between Scotland and Scandinavia in the not too distant past, I doubt if that will ever be viable again, sadly.
Re-establish a route from Rosyth, the passenger sailings stopped in 2010 with the freight only service stopping in 2018.
One year I did the costing for a trip from Rosyth, and to say it was eye watering is an understatement.
IMHO this crossing will probably never be cost effective.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I have done the Hull to Hook of Holland a few times with former North Sea Ferries. It was in RAF vehicles so we always got the overnight ferry with a cabin. The buffet was good both evening and breakfast! We weren't paying though
We used to go Portsmouh Caen as its 200 miles for us, but it became too pricey. Now go Dover to Calais or Dunkirk. Its about 240 to Dover but virtually all motorway.
A night stop at CMC site Black Horse Farm and a mid morning crossing, often a night stop near the port in France to stock up on food etc.
No rush for us retirees. We both tow so can spell each other.
We don't book in France as its not high season and use ACSI.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
As one of life's 'planners', sorting all the bookings a long way ahead is perfectly normal for me, especially where it's a DIY mix and match set up of booking your own ferries and camp sites etc., and complicated by a group of people and likely multiple vehicles.
Time gives opportunity to juggle the parts to fit, last minute usually curtails options significantly and domino effect causes multiple changes to be necessary.
Just gives peace of mind that at least some of the jigsaw pieces are in place. Plenty of other aspects like traffic delays etc. on journeys that are out of your control to be dealing with, no need to add pressure from elsewhere.
Done plenty of JIT (just in time) stuff in my working life, leisure stuff needs to be precisely that, leisurely and assured.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Our first trip to the Netherlands was from Hull as its only a 15min drive to the ferry terminal from where we live. As its an overnight ferry they used to have entertainment on (not sure if they still do), so it was part of the holiday rather then just a transit route.
We also stayed at the very same campsite RCN Flaasbloem the kids loved the large swimming lake. We also went to the same theme park and safari park, again the kids loved both.
We travelled to the Netherlands again this year but sailed from Harwich as the ferry cost was almost half compared to the Hull crossing. Even factoring in the additional road travel it was a saving we couldn't ignore.
Quote: Originally posted by RainMagnet on 14/10/2025
Our first trip to the Netherlands was from Hull as its only a 15min drive to the ferry terminal from where we live. As its an overnight ferry they used to have entertainment on (not sure if they still do), so it was part of the holiday rather then just a transit route.
We also stayed at the very same campsite RCN Flaasbloem the kids loved the large swimming lake. We also went to the same theme park and safari park, again the kids loved both.
We travelled to the Netherlands again this year but sailed from Harwich as the ferry cost was almost half compared to the Hull crossing. Even factoring in the additional road travel it was a saving we couldn't ignore.
Hope you have a great Holiday in 2026.
Thanks RainMagnet. Glad you can recommend the campsite and theme parks, as this holiday we need to take the grandchildren into account too.
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 13/10/2025Re-establish a route from Rosyth, the passenger sailings stopped in 2010 with the freight only service stopping in 2018.
That ferry went to Zeebrugge; geographically close enough to Dunkirk, I guess.
Whatever, the route might be viable for freight, but there doesn’t seem to be any urgency about re-establishing a link to Europe, so we won’t have the choice. I take your point about cost.
Frustrating that the Ardrossan - Campbeltown ferry won’t be coming back: we used that route several times to make a circuit.
If the route wasn't viable back then, and since the astronomical rise in fuel cost, I seriously doubt if it will be viable now.
There certainly wouldn't be the traffic IMO.
ftfbt
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
We've just booked Harwich-Hook for the first time ever for next June. Kids (26,25,22 and a partner) have requested one last Duinrell trip (we went umpteen tiles when they were kids), so we're off again!
I've got an electric car now so the 40 minutes the other side is a very attractive option, even though the ferry was very pricey for four adults and two cabins, both ways. The other kids will fly then train to Leiden and we'll pick them up. Exciting!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Can`t quite believe it ...
via mobile 13/10/2025 at 8:28am
