Updated September 2026. The direct ferry from Eemshaven (and later Emden) to Kristiansand stopped in September 2023. There is currently no ferry straight from the Netherlands to Norway. Fortunately there are plenty of good alternatives, and all of them can be booked.
There has been a lot of trouble around the ferry from the Netherlands. The alternatives via Denmark and Germany are not bad at all.
Tom de Lange
The best alternatives for the ferry to Norway
- Hirtshals – Kristiansand: the logical successor to the Eemshaven route. A short crossing of 2 to 3.5 hours, arriving in the same place. Read more about this route on Hirtshals-Kristiansand.com.
- Kiel – Oslo: a luxury cruise ferry with a night on board. Recommended if you want to travel in comfort and are heading for Oslo or eastern Norway. See ferries to Oslo.
- Hirtshals to Larvik, Stavanger or Bergen: handy if your holiday starts near Oslo or in western Norway. An overview is on ferries to Norway from Denmark.
- Via Denmark and Sweden: Scandlines combi tickets take you through Denmark and across the Øresund to Sweden at a fair price. From Helsingborg it is then about 6 hours to Oslo.
Scandlines combi tickets hardly ever sell out, so many travellers use them as a safe option in their plans. You can compare all ferries with the search tool on our homepage.
And the ferry from the Netherlands?
A new service from Eemshaven to Arendal is in the works. Funding for a new quay has been secured and the route could start from 2028. There is no ship, timetable or ticket sale yet. Follow the news in this article on the planned Eemshaven – Arendal ferry.
Ferry booked, now what?
Arriving in Kristiansand, you are right in Sørlandet, the sunny south of Norway. A cottage on the coast or by a lake makes a great base. Tips for your arrival are on our page about the ferry to Kristiansand.
Have a good trip!
