Eemshaven to Kristiansand Ferry
Holland Norway Lines opened the direct ferry from the Netherlands to Norway in April 2022. The service moved to Cuxhaven and then Emden in 2023. The final crossing took place on 30 August 2023.
- Route status
- Service ended
- First sailing
- 7 April 2022
- Last sailing
- 30 August 2023
- Original crossing
- About 18 hours
What happened to the ferry?
The Eemshaven to Kristiansand ferry no longer sails. The Dutch leg ended in April 2023 after repeated problems securing a berth. The same ship continued from Germany, first from Cuxhaven and then from Emden.
Holland Norway Lines suspended sailings on 30 August 2023. A Dutch court declared the company bankrupt on 1 September 2023. The Cuxhaven and Emden services also ended, and there is no direct ferry from the Netherlands to Norway today.
Map of the old and current routes
Route lines are approximate. Coastline data from Natural Earth.
Timeline of Holland Norway Lines
The MS Romantika served Kristiansand from three ports in just under 17 months.
- First sailing from Eemshaven
Holland Norway Lines opens the overnight route to Kristiansand, with three sailings per week in each direction.
- Move to Germany announced
Without a permanent, suitable berth in Eemshaven, the operator cancels several crossings and announces a move to Germany.
- First departure from Cuxhaven
The temporary service uses the Steubenhöft terminal. The first departure, due on 18 April, goes ahead two days later.
- Emden becomes the final home port
The Romantika moves to a permanent berth at Emden, closer to the Dutch border. Kristiansand remains the Norwegian terminus.
- The last crossing
The operator applies for a suspension of payments and the service stops. The court declares Holland Norway Lines bankrupt on 1 September.
Latest ferry news
Coverage of the proposed ferry between Eemshaven and Arendal and the work to build a new quay.
Dutch press
Norwegian press
Headlines come from Google News and appear in their original languages.
Route summaries in Dutch, German and Norwegian
Ferry van Eemshaven naar Noorwegen
De veerboot van Eemshaven naar Kristiansand voer van april 2022 tot april 2023. Holland Norway Lines week uit naar Cuxhaven en daarna naar Emden. Op 30 augustus 2023 stopte de veerdienst. Naar Kristiansand vaar je nu rechtstreeks vanuit Hirtshals.
Fähre von Eemshaven nach Kristiansand
Die Fähre ab Eemshaven fuhr bis April 2023. Holland Norway Lines verlegte die Abfahrten erst nach Cuxhaven und dann nach Emden. Auch die spätere Fähre von Emden nach Kristiansand wurde Ende August 2023 eingestellt. Heute fahren Fähren nach Kristiansand ab Hirtshals in Dänemark.
Ferge fra Kristiansand til Nederland
Holland Norway Lines stanset ruten i 2023. Det går for tiden ingen direkte båt fra Kristiansand til Nederland. NedNorge planlegger en ny ferge til IJmuiden, vest for Amsterdam. I dag kan du ta fergen fra Kristiansand til Hirtshals i Danmark.
Ferries to Kristiansand today
The direct ferry to Kristiansand departs from Hirtshals in northern Denmark. It is the closest match if you need to arrive in Kristiansand with a car or motorhome.
- Color Line
- About 3 hr 15 minSuperSpeed 1, year-round
- Fjord Line
- From 2 hr 25 minSeasonal fast ferry, or about 3 hr 55 min on the year-round ships
Kiel to Oslo
An overnight ferry from Germany. Allow about four hours by road from Oslo to Kristiansand.
Hirtshals to Larvik
An alternative if Kristiansand sailings are full. Allow about 2½ hours to drive from Larvik to Kristiansand. View the Larvik timetable.
Via Denmark and Sweden
Drive to Norway through Sweden. Scandlines combination tickets cover options for getting to Sweden.
More route information in the Hirtshals to Kristiansand ferry guide and the overview of alternatives from the Netherlands (in Dutch).
Kristiansand ferry port
The port is next to the city centre. The E18 runs east towards Arendal and Oslo, the E39 west towards Mandal and Stavanger, and Route 9 north into Setesdal.
See Kristiansand.nl’s guide to arriving by ferry (in Dutch).
Compare sailings and fares by language
Hirtshals to Kristiansand
Denmark to southern Norway
Kristiansand to Hirtshals
Norway to Denmark
Kiel to Oslo
Overnight ferry from Germany
The comparison links open Direct Ferries. We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Sources
- Eemshavenonline on the inaugural sailing
- NOS on the move out of Eemshaven
- VFF on the first Cuxhaven departure
- City of Emden on the new service
- Holland Norway Lines administrator’s report (PDF)
- Maritime history database on the Romantika
- Groningen Seaports on Eemshaven to Arendal
- Logistikk Inside on the NedNorge proposal
- Color Line and Fjord Line on the current crossing