My favourite way of crossing to Europe has always been Harwich to Hoek, and for our 2022 roadtrip we chose the night sailing. We arrived at the port at 8.30pm, were loaded an hour later and were ready to set sail by 23:00.
We checked out the restaurant just to get a drink but before we knew it we were ordering fish and chips followed by Dutch apple pie which was delicious. Well, we were on holiday after all!
After disembarking the next morning we headed inland towards Gouda. Staying off the motorway gives you the chance to explore so we decided to meander our way to Rotterdam with its many bridges and waterways as it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Lined up on the river bank are some of the biggest inland ferries you’ll see. Some really do resemble horizontal tower blocks complete with roof-top pools and other activities for its guests.
The Netherlands has some great little picnic spots once you’re out in the countryside. Following the signs to the next spot we came across a delightful area with ample parking and, of course, being The Netherlands easy access to bike routes, some taking you through a little wooded area which provided some welcome shade in the beating sun.
There was even a small cafe and canoe hire shop and the owners were exceptionally friendly and helpful. We asked if they had any campsite recommendations and their favoured spot was only a 25 minute drive down the road. They even rang the campsite owner to check availability.
This local knowledge is like goldust and should be fully utilised whenever possible. After exploring the local area and taking a trip across the river Lek with the bikes
