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Eurotunnel to Amsterdam by car: route, cost and time
Driving from the UK to Amsterdam via the Eurotunnel is easier than it looks. The LeShuttle train takes your car to Calais in 35 minutes, then it is a scenic 4-hour drive through Belgium into the Netherlands. Here is the full route.
Taking your car from the UK to Amsterdam through the Eurotunnel is a popular and straightforward trip. You drive to Folkestone, load your car onto the LeShuttle train, cross to Calais in 35 minutes, and then drive north through Belgium into the Netherlands. The whole journey is around 6 hours 30 minutes door to door. Below you will find the full route, what it costs, how long each stage takes, and a handy parking tip for Amsterdam.
How do you get to Amsterdam with the Eurotunnel?
Here is the key thing to understand: the Eurotunnel car train does not go to Amsterdam. LeShuttle (formerly Eurotunnel Le Shuttle) carries your car under the Channel from Folkestone to Calais only, a 35-minute crossing. From Calais, you drive the rest of the way to Amsterdam yourself, about 4 hours through Belgium and into the Netherlands.
You drive your car onto LeShuttle at Folkestone, cross to Calais in 35 minutes (you stay in your car), then drive north via the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp, and on into the Netherlands to Amsterdam, roughly 350 km. If you would rather travel without a car, the direct Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam is faster. This page is about driving your own car.
The UK to Amsterdam route at a glance
Here is the full journey, stage by stage. The tunnel crossing is only a small part of it, most of the trip is the drive up through Belgium.
The route runs London to Folkestone by road, Folkestone to Calais through the Channel Tunnel on LeShuttle, then Calais to Amsterdam via the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp and on into the Netherlands.
- London → FolkestoneBy road, about 1 hour 30 minutes (M20).
- Check-in and border controlAllow around 60 minutes at the Folkestone terminal.
- Folkestone → Calais (the Eurotunnel)35 minutes on the LeShuttle car train. You stay in your car.
- Calais → AmsterdamBy road, about 4 hours (approx. 350 km) via Ghent and Antwerp.
- Total, door to doorAround 6 hours 30 minutes including check-in and driving.
How much does it cost to drive to Amsterdam?
The cost of driving from the UK to Amsterdam via the Eurotunnel has three parts: the LeShuttle crossing, then fuel and tolls for the drive through Belgium and the Netherlands.
LeShuttle car fares start from around £69 for a short-stay return, but a one-way or peak-time crossing is often higher, commonly £120 or more when booked close to departure. On top of that, budget for fuel for the roughly 350 km drive. The good news for this route: there are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands, so once you leave France you only pay for fuel.
| Cost | Approximate |
|---|---|
| LeShuttle crossing (car) | from £69 |
| Motorway tolls (Belgium and Netherlands) | none |
| Fuel, Calais → Amsterdam (approx. 350 km) | varies by vehicle |
Prices are indicative and change with date, time and demand. The tunnel fare is the biggest variable, so book early for the best rate. Use the price checker above for your exact dates.
How long does it take to drive to Amsterdam?
The full door-to-door trip takes about 6 hours 30 minutes by car, though only 35 minutes of that is the tunnel crossing itself. Here is how the time breaks down.
- London to Folkestone: about 1 hour 30 minutes by road on the M20.
- Check-in and border control: allow around 60 minutes at the terminal.
- The Eurotunnel crossing: 35 minutes platform to platform, up to four departures an hour at busy times.
- Calais to Amsterdam: about 4 hours through Belgium and the Netherlands, depending on traffic around Antwerp and the Dutch cities.
For crossing times and departures, see our timetable.
The driving route from Calais to Amsterdam
Once you drive off LeShuttle at Calais, the route to Amsterdam is well signposted and mostly motorway. Leave the terminal and follow the A16, then join the E40 heading east through Ghent, and continue on towards Antwerp. From Antwerp, follow the motorways north across the Dutch border and on via the A16 and A4 towards Rotterdam, Den Haag and finally Amsterdam. It is a steady drive of around 4 hours in normal traffic, with plenty of service areas for fuel and breaks.
Parking in Amsterdam: use Park and Ride
Driving into central Amsterdam can be expensive and stressful, with narrow streets, trams, cyclists everywhere and very high parking charges. The smart move is to use a Park and Ride (P+R) site on the edge of the city, leave your car at a low daily rate, and continue into the centre by metro or tram.
- P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA (southeast) and P+R RAI (south) are popular, well-connected options.
- You pay a low daily fee and get cheap onward public transport into the centre.
- It saves money and avoids the stress of driving and parking in the city itself.
Is the ferry or Eurotunnel cheaper to the Netherlands?
The tunnel is fastest, but a ferry can be cheaper on some dates, and there are direct ferries to the Netherlands worth considering. The short Dover to Calais or Dunkirk crossings feed into the same drive through Belgium, while overnight ferries from Hull to Rotterdam or Harwich to Hook of Holland drop you straight into the Netherlands, saving the long drive but taking longer overall. We compare the options in our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
Prefer to travel without a car? Take Eurostar
If you are travelling as a foot passenger rather than driving, take Eurostar, the direct high-speed train from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal in around 3 hours 52 minutes, right into the city centre. It is the fastest option if you do not need a car in the Netherlands. Everything on this page, by contrast, is about driving your own vehicle via LeShuttle.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take the Eurotunnel to Amsterdam?
The Eurotunnel car train only runs from Folkestone to Calais. From Calais you drive about 4 hours through Belgium to Amsterdam. There is no car train direct to Amsterdam. For a direct train without a car, take Eurostar.
How much does it cost to drive to Amsterdam from the UK?
The LeShuttle crossing starts from around £69 per car, though peak and last-minute fares are higher. There are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands, so beyond the crossing you mainly budget for fuel over the 350 km drive. Book early for the best crossing price.
How long does it take to drive from the UK to Amsterdam?
About 6 hours 30 minutes door to door: roughly 1h30 London to Folkestone, around an hour for check-in and border, 35 minutes through the tunnel, and about 4 hours Calais to Amsterdam.
How far is Calais to Amsterdam by car?
About 350 km, roughly 4 hours via the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp, then north across the Dutch border into Amsterdam, in normal traffic.
Where should I park in Amsterdam?
Use a Park and Ride (P+R) site on the edge of the city, such as P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA or P+R RAI. You leave your car at a low daily rate and continue by metro or tram, which is far cheaper and less stressful than driving into the centre.
Do I need anything special to drive in Belgium and the Netherlands?
You drive on the right, and both Antwerp and Amsterdam have low-emission zones that may affect older vehicles. Check the requirements and whether your car needs to register before you travel. There are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands.
Driving from the UK to Amsterdam through the Eurotunnel is a straightforward trip once you know the shape of it: the tunnel takes your car to Calais in 35 minutes, and from there it is about a 4-hour drive north through Belgium into the Netherlands. Budget around £69 and up for the crossing plus fuel, allow about 6 hours 30 minutes door to door, use a Park and Ride site when you arrive, and book early for the best fare. Use the price checker above to see live prices for your travel dates.