If you're looking for a ferry to Belgium or a ferry to Bruges, the crossing most people use lands just over the border in France. DFDS says its Dover to Dunkirk route gives "access to northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and more", and that its Dunkirk port is "less than 30 minutes from the Belgium border".
Visit Bruges, the city's own tourism site, puts it the same way: "Various ferry companies operate between the English and French and Dutch coasts." Its ferry list sends you via Dunkirk, Calais or Rotterdam, then on by motorway. Here are the DFDS crossings that suit a trip to Belgium, what they cost when I checked, and the rules for driving into Belgian cities.
The DFDS crossings for Belgium
These are the fares DFDS showed when I checked on 13 November 2026.
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | Sailings | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover–Dunkirk | DFDS | From 2 hours | Up to 22 a day | £114 one way, car and up to 5 people |
| Dover–Calais | DFDS | 1 hour 40 minutes | Up to 30 a day | £114 one way, car and up to 5 people |
| Newcastle–Amsterdam | DFDS | Overnight, departs 17:00 | Daily | £74 per person, based on 4 people in an inside cabin with a car, one way |
DFDS says the Dover fares are a "one-way fare for a standard car carrying up to 5 passengers on Dover-France routes, including ETS charge". DFDS is also offering 15% off 2027 crossings if you book early.
Dover to Dunkirk: the closest crossing to Belgium
This is the route DFDS ties most closely to Belgium. The crossing takes from 2 hours, over a sailing distance of 47 nautical miles, with up to 22 sailings a day. DFDS lists the first ferry at 02:00 and the last at 23:59, and says it sails "throughout the day and night, 7 days a week".
From Dunkirk, Visit Bruges gives the drive to Bruges via Veurne as about one hour and 73 km. It lists the route as the E40 motorway, Dunkerque > Veurne > Bruges.
DFDS says Dover to Dunkirk is "perfect for a day trip or the starting point for a European holiday". On board, the 7 Seas Restaurant and Lighthouse Café are open 24/7, and Wi-Fi is free. If you have time to spare on the French side first, my guide to Dunkirk has ideas.
Dover to Calais: more sailings, a longer drive
DFDS calls Dover to Calais its fastest crossing between the UK and France, at 1 hour 40 minutes. It runs up to 30 sailings a day, with the first ferry listed at 00:10 and the last at 21:10. The fare from is the same £114 as Dunkirk.
The trade-off is the drive. Visit Bruges gives Calais to Bruges, via Dunkerque and Veurne, as about 1 hour 30 minutes and 115 km. So Calais gives you more sailing times to choose from, and Dunkirk puts you closer to Belgium.
So Calais gives you more sailing times to choose from, and Dunkirk puts you closer to Belgium.
Newcastle to Amsterdam: the northern option
If you live in the north of England or Scotland, DFDS's overnight Newcastle–Amsterdam ferry is the other way in. The ferry leaves Newcastle daily at 17:00, and check-in closes at 16:15.
DFDS links this route to Belgium itself. It mentions "easy onward connections to Belgium, Germany and beyond" from Amsterdam, and sells a "Bruges City Break from Newcastle" package that sails to Amsterdam.
The Holland ferries hub has more on the Dutch crossings.
Foot passengers and pets
The two Dover routes are for vehicles only. DFDS says "Only vehicle travel is permitted on our Dover - France routes. Foot passengers are not permitted." No baggage limits apply, and you can also take a bicycle, motorbike, van or motorhome on Dover–Dunkirk.
Newcastle–Amsterdam is the one to choose if you want to travel on foot. DFDS says you can go "with your vehicle or on foot" on that route.
For pets, the rules differ by route:
- Dover–Dunkirk and Dover–Calais. Pets must stay in your vehicle. DFDS allows a maximum of 5 pets, and fees apply. You can't stay in the vehicle with them during the sailing, which DFDS puts down to health and safety regulations.
- Newcastle–Amsterdam. You can travel with your pet as a vehicle or foot passenger. You must book a pet-friendly cabin or a dog-friendly kennel where applicable. DFDS says its pet-friendly cabins are limited, and if none are available you shouldn't book a different cabin type.
Check-in and documents
For the Dover routes, DFDS says check-in closes 60 minutes before departure. It advises allowing 120 minutes before check-in closes to pass through all the controls.
GOV.UK's Belgium travel advice says Belgium follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must have a "date of issue" less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and an "expiry date" at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. You can visit the Schengen area, which includes Belgium, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as a tourist or to see family or friends.
GOV.UK also explains the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). You may need to register your fingerprints and a photo, and there's no cost. If you leave through the Port of Dover, GOV.UK says "any information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK".
Driving in Belgium
GOV.UK's Belgium advice says to carry these whenever you drive there:
- your driving licence
- your car registration documents
- your insurance paper
- your MOT ('contrôle technique') certificate
- your passport and your passengers' passports
GOV.UK also warns that police use speed traps, cameras and unmarked vehicles, and that speeding can result in an on-the-spot fine. Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal unless it's hands-free.
You may also need a UK sticker. GOV.UK says you don't need one if your number plate has the UK identifier with the Union flag. You must display one if your plate has numbers and letters only, a GB identifier with the Union flag, a European Union flag, or the national flag of England, Scotland or Wales.
Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent
GOV.UK says: "There are low emission zones in Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. You need to pre-register foreign vehicles on the Brussels , Ghent or Antwerp websites." Here's what each city's own site says.
- Brussels. The City of Brussels says the LEZ applies "all days of the week, 24 hours a day, on the entire territory of the Brussels Capital Region". Vehicles registered abroad must be registered before entering, and registration is free on the official site, lez.brussels. That site was down for maintenance when I checked.
- Antwerp. The city says "the entire city centre of Antwerp and Linkeroever" is a low emission zone, and foreign vehicles must also comply. If you need to register, it's free, and you have until one day after you enter the zone.
- Ghent. The city centre inside the ring road is a low emission zone, and smart cameras check cars as they enter. Permitted vehicles with a foreign number plate must be registered. The city says registering lets you enter all Flemish low-emission zones, and you must do it no later than one day after you enter.
If your car doesn't meet the standards, Antwerp and Ghent both sell a day pass that you can use up to 12 times a year. Ghent and the City of Brussels both warn against companies selling stickers. Ghent says it is "not in any way involved".
Bruges, Ghent and Brussels when you arrive
Bruges. Visit Bruges says "Motor traffic is not recommended in the city centre", and some streets are car-free at set times. It suggests the free peripheral car parks or Park-and-Rides. If you'd rather park centrally, it recommends the two underground car parks: Centrum-'t Zand, a 10-minute walk to the Market Square, and Centrum-Station, which includes the bus into the centre in the car park ticket. This winter, Wintergloed (Winter Glow) runs from 20 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, with the Christmas market in the centre. My Bruges Christmas market guide has more.
Ghent. Visit Gent says you can park free at the edge of the city or use the paid car parks, and electronic signs guide you to them. It adds that if your car doesn't have a Belgian or Dutch number plate, "you should ALWAYS register it" for the LEZ. It says not to miss the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers.
Brussels. visit.brussels says Winter Wonders runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, its 25th anniversary. The Christmas market spreads across squares from Place de la Monnaie to Place Poelaert, with a sound and light show on the Grand-Place.
Questions about ferries to Belgium
Which ferry is closest to Belgium?
DFDS's Dover–Dunkirk crossing. DFDS says its Dunkirk port is less than 30 minutes from the Belgian border, and Visit Bruges gives the drive from Dunkirk to Bruges as about one hour.
How long is the ferry to Bruges?
There's no crossing into Bruges itself in Visit Bruges's ferry list. Dover–Dunkirk takes from 2 hours, then Visit Bruges gives the drive as about one hour. Dover–Calais takes 1 hour 40 minutes, then about 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
How much is the ferry to Belgium?
When I checked on 13 November 2026, DFDS showed Dover–Dunkirk and Dover–Calais from £114 one way for a car and up to 5 people. Newcastle–Amsterdam was from £74 per person, based on 4 people in an inside cabin with a car, one way.
Can I go to Belgium as a foot passenger?
Not via Dover with DFDS: its Dover–France routes are vehicle only. DFDS's Newcastle–Amsterdam ferry takes foot passengers.
Do I need to register my car for Belgian low-emission zones?
GOV.UK says you need to pre-register foreign vehicles for the Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp zones. Brussels and Antwerp say registration is free, and Ghent says certain vehicles can be registered for free.
Can I take my dog to Belgium by ferry?
Yes. On DFDS's Dover routes your dog stays in the car. On Newcastle–Amsterdam you can book a pet-friendly cabin or a dog-friendly kennel.
