Can I Take A Folding Camper To The Netherlands?

I had no idea where I’d be able to take my folding camper before purchasing it. After a couple of years of touring the UK, I decided to find out if I could start taking my folding camper to countries in Europe, such as the Netherlands.

Can I take a folding camper to the Netherlands? You can take a folding camper to the Netherlands. You can take a folding camper in the same way you would a trailer tent or a caravan.

In this blog post, I’ll cover everything from some of the reasons to visit Holland to important information concerning traveling to the Netherlands from England. As well as all that, we’ve got a list of some of the best campsites to stop at during your stay. Read on to find out all you need to know about taking your folding camper to the Netherlands.

Book a visit to Holland via Eurocamp, with tons of holiday types to choose from and unique benefits such as a refund guarantee and a “pay balance later” scheme which lets you book your trip now and pay for it later on. Explore all the possibilities and book your dream trip by visiting Eurocamp today.

How Accessible Is Holland From England?

My main concern when planning holidays with my folding camper is the accessibility of the locations I’m wanting to visit; I’m sure many other folding camper owners feel the same way. In this section of the blog post, we’ll look at how accessible Holland is from England.

The best method of traveling to the Netherlands from England is either the euro tunnel or ferry. I’ll explain all you need to know about both options below.

Ferries to Holland directly

As far as I’m concerned, if I’m visiting Holland I want to get a ferry to Holland directly rather than elongating the journey and travelling through neighbouring countries. Fortunately, there are several ferry routes between England and Holland. Because the west coast of Holland is on the north sea, there are several ports in England that have ferries travelling to Holland daily.

The Stena Britannica. Stena Line operates the route between Harwich and the Hook of Holland. Image: Stena Line

There are currently 3 ferry routes operating between England and the Netherlands:

  • Harwich to Hook of Holland
  • Hull to Rotterdam
  • Newcastle to Amsterdam

The sailing duration of these ferries differ greatly.

  • Harwich – Hook of Holland: Approximately 7 – 8 hours
  • Hull – Rotterdam: Approximately 12 – 13 hours
  • Newcastle – Amsterdam: Approximately 15 – 16 hours

All of these ferry routes are in operation 7 times a week or more, so there’s plenty of availability when planning your trip.

Ferries suitable for indirectly traveling to Holland

If you don’t mind a little journey once you’re off the ferry, there are several ferry services to other countries in Europe from England that still allow you to easily visit Holland. If you don’t mind a longer drive, you have a greater number of ferry routes to choose from, such as:

  • Dover to Dunkirk
  • Dover to Calais
  • Hull to Zeebrugge

In some respects, you might be better choosing one of the above ferries to travel to the Netherlands. Why? Well, the Dover to Dunkirk ferry is only 2 hours sailing time. The shortest sailing time on the ferries directly to the Netherlands is 7 hours, so that’s a massive difference. From Dunkirk to Amsterdam, you’d have to drive approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. This means you’ll probably get to your destination much quicker. It really comes down to how comfortable you are driving in a foreign country.

DFDS operates a ferry route between Dover and Dunkirk. Image: DFDS

If I was going to choose one of these ferry routes to get to the Netherlands, I would choose Dover to Dunkirk. You’re not on the ferry for long, and then you can enjoy a casual drive to your destination in the Netherlands.

Travelling To Holland Via The Eurotunnel

If you don’t fancy traveling to Holland via ferry, the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is always an option. While you weren’t always able to use the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle when towing a folding camper, you can now. This makes it a great option for getting to the Netherlands if you don’t fancy a ferry trip.

The Channel Tunnel connects Folkestone and Calais. As a result, you would have to drive approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to get to the Netherlands after departing the shuttle. However, this means you’d still get to your destination much faster than you would on any of the ferries that travel directly to the Netherlands.

Although the Eurotunnel is one of the quickest ways to get to Europe (the journey between is Folkestone and Calais is 35 minutes) it’s also one of the most expensive when you’re towing a trailer. Of course, this does depend on the dimensions of the folding camper that you’re towing. That’s just something to keep in mind when choosing between the options available to you.

Book a visit to Holland via Eurocamp, with tons of holiday types to choose from and unique benefits such as a refund guarantee and a “pay balance later” scheme which lets you book your trip now and pay for it later on. Explore all the possibilities and book your dream trip by visiting Eurocamp today.

Things To Be Aware Of When Driving In The Netherlands

Before visiting another country, it’s obviously very important to make sure you are aware of anything you’ll need to take with you. Additionally, if you’re going to be driving, you need to make sure you’re fully aware of the rules of the road.

Here’s are a few things to be aware of when driving and towing in the Netherlands.

Drive on the right, overtake on the left

This driving regulation is applicable to most countries in mainland Europe, but it’s important to remember that you drive on the right and overtake on the left. It sounds like a silly thing to remind people about, but it’s easy to forget when you’re so used to driving on the left side of the road!

You must be 18 or over

If you’ve just passed your driving test in the UK, that doesn’t mean you’re definitely able to drive in Europe.

You must be 18 or over to drive in several European countries. Even if you’re 17 and have a full driving license in the UK, you cannot drive in Holland until you are 18.

On-the-spot fines for motoring offenses

There’s no messing around when driving in Holland. If you are found to be committing a motoring offence, such as speeding, you will be given an on-the-spot fine.

As a result, make sure that you’re aware of the speed limits. In Holland, the speed limits are as follows:

  • 50Kph – Built-up areas
  • 80Kph – Local roads
  • 100Kph – Highways
  • 130Kph – Motorways

Please note that speeds do differ if you are towing your folding camper or a trailer of any kind.

  • Car & trailer weighing under 3.5 tons combined: 90Kph on motorways. On other road types, above speed limits still apply.

These are just a few things to be aware of. As you should when traveling anywhere, ensure you have your driving licence, your insurance certificate and your V5 registration document. As long as you have all your documents and keep in mind the advice I’ve mentioned above, you’re pretty much good to go.

Why Visit Holland?

Although many will recognise the names of famous cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, plenty of people don’t know about the Netherlands as a whole and some of the reasons to visit this beautiful country.

There are several reasons to get out the good old folding camper and take yourself off to Holland. Here’s just a few notable ones.

Cool Cities

One of the main reasons that people visit the Netherlands is the beautiful cities that you will find there. Besides the obvious (the cities we’ve already mentioned), there are plenty of picturesque cities in the Netherlands.

Cities such as Groningen and Eindhoven are simply beautiful, and there’s plenty to do in these cities. For example, in Groningen, you can climb the Martini Tower and see the entire city, or visit the eye-catching Groninger museum. You won’t be bored during your stay, that’s for sure!

A gorgeous photo of the canal in Groningen, The Netherlands. Image: Swedish Nomad

Amazing Architecture

There’s plenty of beautiful architecture to see in the Netherlands, whether you’re looking to see some historic buildings or some unique modern architecture. You’ll find both in the Netherlands, as it’s a very varied country in terms of its buildings.

In Rotterdam in particular, you will find some unique and eye-catching structures. In Rotterdam, you will find the cube houses, which were designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom. These cube houses are shaped like cubes, which you might have guessed! This is just one example of some truly incredible architecture that you’ll find in the Netherlands. If you are interested in seeing modern architecture, Rotterdam is a special city that you’ll enjoy visiting very much.

The cube houses in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Image: Raul Ayres

Astounding Art And Museums

If you’re a big fan of art and museums, there’s plenty for you to see in the Nethelrands. For example, you’ll find the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which houses literally hundreds of art pieces created by world-renowned artists. It goes without mentioning that the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House are well worth a visit while you’re in Amsterdam.

No matter where you stop in the Netherlands, there is artwork and museums galore. Utrecht is home to a fantastic railway museum, an incredibly popular attraction that you’ll certainly have to book ahead for. As I briefly mentioned before, Groningen is home to the incredible Groninger Museum. This museum displays primarily modern and contemporary artwork created by locals and world-famous artists alike.

Book a visit to Holland via Eurocamp, with tons of holiday types to choose from and unique benefits such as a refund guarantee and a “pay balance later” scheme which lets you book your trip now and pay for it later on. Explore all the possibilities and book your dream trip by visiting Eurocamp today.

These are just some of the reasons that you should visit the Netherlands. There’s plenty to see in this beautiful country. Alongside all of the above, there are several popular shopping centres and a brilliant nightlife in cities such as Amsterdam. So basically, there’s plenty of the fun for the whole family to be found in the Netherlands.

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