LeShuttle Folkestone to Calais
Crossing the Channel in Style: LeShuttle Adventure to the Netherlands
Early starts are never glamorous. But they do feel exciting when a road trip is waiting at the end. On 11 April 2026, we set off at 07.30 on LeShuttle, heading for the Netherlands in our campervan. The destination was Camping Op Hoop van Zegen, Westeinde 76, 2211 XR Noordwijkerhout. A name that feels like a tongue twister, but a campsite worth every mile.
Location: LeShuttle Folkestone to Calais UK Terminal
LeShuttle Terminal, 8XX, Ashford Rd, Folkestone Website LeShuttle
Checking In for LeShuttle Folkestone to Calais
LeShuttle recommends arriving between 60 and 90 minutes before your scheduled departure, so we made sure to leave plenty of time for our 07.30 crossing. We arrived around 90 minutes early and were pleasantly surprised to discover that an earlier departure was available.
The process was incredibly simple. At the automated check-in booth, a message appeared on the screen asking whether we would like to travel on an earlier train. One tap on “Yes” and we were rebooked onto an earlier crossing within seconds.
After check-in, we headed first to the UK border controls, where our passports were checked before leaving Britain. We then drove straight to the French border controls, where our passports were checked again and entry into France was approved. Completing both sets of border formalities before boarding feels unusual at first, but it means you can simply drive away once you arrive in France.
With the passport checks completed, we followed the signs to the departure lanes. Everything was clearly marked and well organised. The whole operation runs with impressive efficiency, moving vehicles through the terminal with very little waiting around.
Before long, we were being directed onto the train and settling in for the short journey beneath the English Channel. Compared with airports and ferry terminals, the entire experience felt quick, straightforward and remarkably stress-free.
The LeShuttle Crossing Folkestone to Calais
Quick, Simple, and Surprisingly Relaxing
The LeShuttle crossing itself is impressively fast.
The journey under the Channel takes around 35 minutes.
You drive straight onto the train, stay in your vehicle, and before you know it, you are in France. There is no ferry sway, no seasickness, and no waiting around on deck.
It is efficient travel at its best. Almost too easy, really. Leaving the Shuttle is easy; just drive off and drive to the A16, no more customs on this side until you come back.
Location: LeShuttle Folkestone to Calais, French Terminal
Calais to Noordwijk
This is the route we chose, deliberately avoiding the major motorways further north near Rotterdam.
Instead of sticking to fast, crowded highways, we drifted onto quieter regional roads. It changed everything. Traffic eased, and the journey slowed into something far more enjoyable.
Villages appeared one after another, each with their own character. Windmills, canals, and open farmland replaced concrete and congestion. The drive felt less like a transfer and more like part of the holiday itself.
By skipping the busiest routes near Rotterdam, we also avoided stress and delays. In return, we gained time, space, and a far richer view of the Dutch landscape unfolding around us.
Arriving in France: The Road Trip Begins
A Scenic Drive Through France and Belgium
As soon as the train doors opened in France, our European road trip truly began. The anticipation built as we crossed from tunnel to open road.
We drove off LeShuttle and onto the French motorways. The roads were smooth, well-maintained, and easy to navigate. Within minutes, it felt like the holiday had officially started. We had planned to avoid the fastest routes, and it paid off instantly.
Driving through France and into Belgium without fully relying on the main motorways gave the journey a completely different feel.
The roads were quieter. The villages felt more authentic. And the scenery became part of the experience rather than something rushing past in a blur. Every mile felt slower, calmer, and more connected to the landscape around us.
Small towns appeared with bakeries, cafés, and slow-moving charm. Traffic lights replaced toll booths. Roundabouts replaced long motorway stretches. It was the kind of driving that makes the journey as memorable as the destination.
From Belgium to the Dutch Coast
A Drive Through Zeeland and Beyond
Our destination was the Netherlands, but rather than rushing along the busiest motorways, we chose a more scenic route through the beautiful province of Zeeland.
This part of the country is made up of a fascinating collection of peninsulas and islands linked by impressive bridges and causeways. Travelling north from the Belgian border, we passed through Zeeuws-Vlaanderen before exploring the regions of Walcheren, Zuid-Beveland, Noord-Beveland, Tholen and Schouwen-Duiveland.
The journey offered constantly changing views of sandy beaches, vast estuaries, fishing villages and open countryside. It was a refreshing alternative to the busy inland routes.
Leaving Zeeland behind, the landscape gradually changed as we entered South and North Holland. The islands gave way to the Netherlands’ famous dune-lined coastline, leading us towards Noordwijk and the next stage of our adventure.
Toilet Stops in the Netherlands: The Reality Check You Don’t Expect
As soon as we crossed into the Netherlands, one thing became surprisingly important. Toilet stops.
Unlike many other European countries, public toilets are extremely limited here. In fact, you will rarely find them in town centres. Instead, most are located inside cafés, service stations, or supermarkets. Even then, they often come with a fee.
Some locals even say it puts people off going out for long days. While that may sound extreme, it does highlight how different the system feels compared to the UK. The shortage of accessible, free public toilets has become a widely discussed issue across the Netherlands. Research from the gastrointestinal charity MDL Fonds highlights the scale of the problem. Around 85% of residents believe there is a serious lack of public toilets. Even more striking, around one in five people say they avoid going out altogether due to the worry of not finding one.
So, we planned carefully. Our first stop of the trip was set for a supermarket visit at Albert Heijn Burgh-Haamstede.
It was meant to be simple. A quick break. Stretch the legs. Use the facilities. Reset for the journey ahead.
Then came the first wake-up call.
The toilets were not free. A charge of €2 was required just to use them. It was our first real reminder that even the smallest comforts can come at a price on the road.
Still, we carried on with the plan. We had already decided to pick up a classic Dutch-style lunch. Fresh baguette. Butter. Cheese. And ham. Simple, easy, and perfect for a roadside break later on.
However, the second shock arrived quickly.
Card payments were not accepted in the way we expected. UK debit and credit cards were refused. Only local Dutch bank cards were accepted for payment. Cash was the only alternative.
So suddenly, what felt like a quick supermarket stop turned into a full lesson in preparation. Toilets cost money. Cards don’t always work. And cash still matters more than you think.
It was a small stop, yet it set the tone for the journey ahead. Had we driven a little further, a Jumbo supermarket would have made life easier, as credit cards are usually accepted there.
Fortunately, that turned out to be the exception rather than the rule. Over the next eight weeks on the road, card payments were rarely an issue again, and the trip ran far more smoothly than that first unexpected encounter suggested. The toilet situation, however, never really improved.
Around 4.5 Hours from France to the Netherlands
From the moment we arrived in France, the drive to the Netherlands took around four and a half hours.
This included relaxed cruising through Belgium, steady borderless driving, and occasional stops when needed.
No rushing. No stress. Just a steady flow towards the Dutch coastline.
The final stretch into the Netherlands felt especially smooth. Roads are well maintained, and driving standards are calm and predictable.
Paying the A24 Toll Road in the Netherlands
One thing to be aware of when driving to the Netherlands is the A24 (Blankenburg Connection) toll road. Unlike many toll roads across Europe, there are no toll booths and no barriers to stop at. The website link is here to pay for the crossing
Instead, cameras automatically record your vehicle registration as you pass through. Payment must then be made either before your journey or within 72 hours of using the road.
To keep things simple, we paid online before travelling. For our campervan, the toll cost just €1.57 for a single journey, making it one of the cheaper toll roads we encountered on our trip.
If you regularly use the A24, it is worth setting up automatic toll payments. This links your vehicle registration to an account, and the toll is collected automatically each time you use the road. It saves time and removes the risk of forgetting to pay.
The system also works with foreign registration plates, so UK visitors can use the road without any issues.
Don’t forget to pay, though. If payment is not made within 72 hours, a reminder will be issued. Ignore that, and you could face a €35 fine on top of the original toll charge.
Fortunately, the process is quick and straightforward, and paying in advance meant one less thing to think about during our drive through the Netherlands.
Location of the Toll Road A24 Netherlands
Arriving at Camping Op Hoop van Zegen, Noordwijkerhout
Eventually, we reached Camping Op Hoop van Zegen in Noordwijkerhout.
The campsite is well placed for exploring the Dutch coast and nearby tulip fields in spring. It is peaceful, organised, and ideal for campervan travellers.
After a long travel day, pitching up here felt like the reward at the end of a well-planned route.
The kind of place where you finally switch off the engine, sit back, and think… yes, this was worth it.
Camping Op Hoop van Zegen: A Perfect Base for Tulip Country
Camping Op Hoop van Zegen is one of those rare campsites that feels simple, yet perfectly placed. It sits right in the heart of the Dutch bulb-growing region, where the landscape changes dramatically in spring. One minute it is green fields. The next, it is rows of colour stretching to the horizon.
What makes it brilliant is the location. You are not driving to see the tulips. You are already in them.
Step outside the campsite and you are immediately surrounded by cycling and walking routes that cut through flower-growing farmland. In the right season, expect sweeping stripes of red, yellow, pink, and purple. It feels almost unreal at walking pace.
Even better, several nearby areas are within easy reach on foot or a short stroll from the site. You can head towards the outskirts of Lisse, where bulb fields begin to open up in every direction. Walk towards Noordwijkerhout, and you will find quiet country lanes lined with seasonal blooms. Even De Zilk offers peaceful walking routes where fields often appear without warning around the next corner.
Hillegom is also close enough for a longer walk, rewarding you with more vast stretches of cultivated colour and classic Dutch countryside views.
This is what makes the campsite special. You do not need a tour bus or a big plan. You just step out of your tent or caravan, pick a direction, and the tulip landscape does the rest.
Other Accommodation close by
Final Thoughts on the Journey
LeShuttle made the Channel crossing simple and fast. The onward drive through France, Belgium, and into the Netherlands added real character to the trip.
Most importantly, taking the quieter roads turned a transfer into a proper travel experience.
Sometimes the best journeys are not the quickest ones. They are the ones you actually remember.
Another article is available here about food on the UK side
