Driving on from Dunkirk: distances to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Paris
Off the ramp at Loon-Plage you are on the A16 within five minutes. East it is toll-free all the way into Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany; south the A25 takes you to Lille and the A1 to Paris. Here are the distances and times, where to fill up, the low-emission zones, and the rules that differ from home.
Distances and driving times from the terminal
| Destination | Distance | Time without traffic | Route | Tolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruges | 75 km · 47 mi | 55 min | A16, E40 | none |
| Ghent | 120 km · 75 mi | 1 h 20 | A16, E40 | none |
| Brussels | 150 km · 93 mi | 1 h 45 | A16, E40 | none |
| Antwerp | 175 km · 109 mi | 2 h 00 | E40, E17 | none |
| Lille | 80 km · 50 mi | 55 min | A25 | none |
| Rotterdam | 255 km · 158 mi | 2 h 45 | E40, E17, E19, A16 | none |
| Paris | 290 km · 180 mi | 3 h 00 | A25, A1 | about €20 |
| Amsterdam | 330 km · 205 mi | 3 h 15 | E40, E17, E19, A16, A4 | none |
| Cologne | 330 km · 205 mi | 3 h 30 | E40, E314, A4 | none |
| Luxembourg | 360 km · 224 mi | 3 h 45 | A25, A1, A2, A4 or via Brussels | about €12 via France |
| Frankfurt | 520 km · 323 mi | 5 h 15 | E40, A4, A3 | none |
Times without hold-ups. Add half an hour around Antwerp and Brussels between 07:00 and 09:30 and 16:00 and 19:00, and on the Fridays before a holiday.
Out of the port and onto the A16
- Off the ramp, keep rightFrom the ship you are on the right-hand side of the road at once. The port roads are one-way and signed “Toutes directions”.
- A16 east or A16 westAt the junction: A16 direction Belgium and Ostend for the north, A16 direction Calais and Boulogne for the coast south, A25 direction Lille for Paris and the south.
- The Belgian border at Adinkerke25 km east, no control. The A16 becomes the E40. Speed drops to 120 km/h.
- Fuel and foodThe last cheap fuel in France is at the Auchan hypermarket in Grande-Synthe, junction 55, or in Loon-Plage village. Belgian motorway services are frequent and cheaper than French autoroute stations.
Rules that differ from the UK
| Topic | France | Belgium | Netherlands | Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorway limit | 130 km/h, 110 in rain | 120 km/h | 100 km/h daytime, 130 at night | No general limit, 130 advisory |
| Tolls for cars | South of Lille, on the A1 and A26 | None | None | None |
| Low-emission zones | Crit’Air sticker for Lille, Paris and other cities; not Dunkirk | Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels: register a foreign car online, free, before you enter | Diesel bans in city centres apply to old vehicles only | Green Umweltplakette for most city centres, buy in advance or at a garage |
| Compulsory kit | Triangle, hi-vis vest | Triangle, vest, first-aid kit, extinguisher for Belgian cars | Triangle | Triangle, vest, first-aid kit |
| Headlamps | Beam deflectors or the car’s own switch for driving on the right, everywhere on the Continent. | |||
| UK sticker | Required unless your plate shows UK with the Union flag. | |||
Should you have used Calais?
Calais is 40 km further west on the same A16. For Belgium and everything north-east of it, Dunkirk saves about half an hour of driving and any Calais queues. For Paris and the south the two ports come out level; for Normandy and Brittany, Calais is a little closer. The comparison is on Calais or Dunkirk.
Questions about driving on
Are there tolls between Dunkirk and Belgium?
No. The A16 to the border and all Belgian motorways are free for cars. Tolls only start south of Lille on the A1 to Paris.
Do I need a Crit’Air sticker?
Not for Dunkirk, the A16 or the A25. Lille, Paris and most large French cities have zones; order the sticker online at least ten days before you travel if you drive into one.
How long from Dunkirk to Amsterdam?
About 3 hours 15 without traffic, via Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, all toll-free. Add half an hour at rush hour around Antwerp.