From April 2022, the Netherlands and Norway will have a direct ferry connection.
By Mehret Haile-Mariam
The line will be established between Eemshaven in the province of Groningen and Kristiansand, in Norway’s south. Therefore, a special quay and infrastructure will be constructed in Eemshaven, according to the shipping company “Holland Norway Lines” (HNL), which initiated the project.
Eco-friendly travelling
“We are bringing Europe closer to Kristiansand and southern Norway,” promised HNL’s managing director Bart Cunnen in a press release. Several ferry connections between the Netherlands and Scandinavia, such as Amsterdam and Gothenburg (Sweden) or Bergen and Kristiansand (Norway), had been shut down in the past due to the rise of low-cost air travel.
However, now that environmental concerns are more prevalent in public and politics, people prefer more sustainable options such as ferry connections. HNL also plans to build an office for its staff, as it is expected that (at least) 50 new job opportunities will be created.
Full steam ahead
The journey takes approximately 18 hours with prices starting from 100€ per person. The first trip, connecting the Northern Netherlands and Southern Norway, is set to take place on April 7, 2022. HNL plans on scheduling three trips per week, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. First Tickets will be available this week.
Photo by Susanne Nilsson on flickr
