Fridge search Harwich to Hook of Holland?

[Vansflyer]

Asking for a "friend".
They are off to Germany shortly and taking the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, the are normally legal law abiding people but do like British bacon, semi skimmed milk etc to see them over their first few days abroad.
They have done the tunnel many times without issue but wondering if the Holland route get fridge searches at all?
Ta

 

[Barclaybasher]

Take what want - not really a great loss if its taken....

 

[Chipster]

We didn’t get searched last week.

 

[JnJ]

No search for us 2 weeks ago either. We had all normal stuff including bacon etc. They have too much to do to waste time looking in everyones fridge unless of course you are already flagged up for some reason

 

[Brains]

Done the crossing several times.
Fridge never checked

BUT they do insist you turn off the gas before boarding.

So just incase your 'friend' happened to have a full fridge, then the best thing to do is to freeze about 4 of the 1.5 litre large fizzy pop bottles.
And then put them in the fridge before you leave home.
As long as the door stays closed, the fridge will still be cold on arrival in Holland.

That said, right opposite the ferry port exit is a large Albert Heijn supermarket with a large carpark big enough for motorhomes.
(Albert Heijn is the equivalent of Sainsburys in the UK, they take cash and cards, but not Visa or Mastercard associated cards!!!!!)

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[Vansflyer]

Thanks for the feedback, I will pass the information onto my friend. They have a compressor fridge and a healthy battery so if any bacon slips into the fridge it should still be good to eat without fear of food poisoning. Interesting the supermarket doesn't take the main credit cards, they best get some cash as well!

 

[Brains]

Thanks for the feedback, I will pass the information onto my friend. They have a compressor fridge and a healthy battery so if any bacon slips into the fridge it should still be good to eat without fear of food poisoning. Interesting the supermarket doesn't take the main credit cards, they best get some cash as well!

As we found out:
Their own instore ATM cashpoint does take all the normal cards.

You get the cash out of their own ATM.
Pay at the till.
They then put the cash back into the ATM!

 

[vin.egan]

we travelled that route last week and have done for quite a few years, we have never had the fridge searched or even any mention of foodstuffs.

we turn the gas off at the bottle anyway, but this time we were never asked about the gas. Hit and miss I guess.

 

[Riggers1]

No search for us last Wednesday. They came in the motorhome for less than 10 seconds and didn’t even bother opening the door into the rear washroom, We could have had anything in there!!

 

[Oldrat]

No checks for me last month

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[CG1]

Where are the checks carried out?

Are these on the ferry or after you have disembarked?

1st time taking motorhome abroad so not sure what happens

 

[meanders]

Checks could take place at either end. Rarely have we been stopped and checked apart from 'is the gas off? On one trip out they checked the van inside and out (including underneath), and then again when we got off the other end when the Dutch put us through the same routine. Whether that was bad luck or or acting on specific intelligence I don't know but the Dutch pulled over every caravan and van we saw for checks. Never had the fridge contents checked, although on one occasion was asked if we had any knives on board! Eh... yes. It's a motorhome. Showed them the drawer and they were happy but asked us to not take any knives outside the van.

We have been more thoroughly searched many more times on the way back, but even then they are not looking for the additional bottle of wine. I brought a case of wine back on one occasion and had to show UK customers it was sealed wine bottles and not spirits in a box labelled wine.

 

[Vansflyer]

Where are the checks carried out?

Are these on the ferry or after you have disembarked?

1st time taking motorhome abroad so not sure what happens

Nope no fridge checks done on that trip or the others this year apart from looking for people in / on / under the van. Caen police were very keen to check the van 3 times before we left France in September.

 

[Two Rivers]

This is a bit off subject but how early can you arrive at Harwich to catch the night boat

 

[Brains]

This is a bit off subject but how early can you arrive at Harwich to catch the night boat

The night before!

When we were last there last summer at about 4pm for the 8pm boat there were several caravans/motorhomes tucked up on the boundary fence inside the carpark waiting for the ferry the following day.

I don't think there would be any problem arriving up to 24 hrs before departure.
There is a waiting room with loos and some vending machines which I think is accessible most of the time.

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[MisterB]

This is a bit off subject but how early can you arrive at Harwich to catch the night boat

As Brains has said, in addition, the port is right next to a shopping area and also has a large Morrisons with a cafe, lidls and Macdonald's are over the road, so you don't need to stay with your motorhome or you can just park in Morrisons etc before moving on to the port.

 

[Two Rivers]

Thanks, do you know if the Morrisons near the port has LPG

 

[Oldrat]

It’s easy to miss the tiny duty free shop at Harwich, but it’s the cheapest I’d ever come across.
Litre of Gordons gin £10.

 

[Astranomicalblue]

It’s easy to miss the tiny duty free shop at Harwich, but it’s the cheapest I’d ever come across.
Litre of Gordons gin £10.

Sailing on the 25th, where abouts is the duty free shop please

 

[Oldrat]

Beside the car park inside the terminal.

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[Brains]

Thanks, do you know if the Morrisons near the port has LPG

Look at the MyLPG.EU app.
But no, it would appear not

 

[meanders]

Ipswich Morrison pump was working yesterday when I put petrol in the car. Just of A14 junction 54. Head into Ipswich 1/4 mile and it's on the right.

 

[MisterB]

Thanks, do you know if the Morrisons near the port has LPG

As meanders pointed out, Ipswich Morrisons is your best option - LPG filling stations in the area are very limited unfortunately

 

[Jenka]

Asking for a "friend".
They are off to Germany shortly and taking the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, the are normally legal law abiding people but do like British bacon, semi skimmed milk etc to see them over their first few days abroad.
They have done the tunnel many times without issue but wondering if the Holland route get fridge searches at all?
Ta

British bacon from Denmark don't worry they are not interested enjoy

 

[Bleau’s]

Definitely no LPG at Morrisons Harwich we always arrive at about 8 at night and stopover for the day boat but no problems parking anytime and the duty free shop is half the boat price and no lugging doWn stairs.

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[Brains]

Definitely no LPG at Morrisons Harwich we always arrive at about 8 at night and stopover for the day boat but no problems parking anytime and the duty free shop is half the boat price and no lugging down stairs.

Purley out of interest, if you arrive in time to get the night boat, why camp overnight in the car park and get the day boat?
By getting the night boat you would then arrive in (Hook of ) Holland a whole day earlier.

When waiting for the night boat, I always wondered why there is the little overnight encampment at the top of the carpark of people waiting for the day boat.

 

[Bleau’s]

Just prefer to get a full night's sleep and a kip on the boat and then a good drive when we get off also better for the dog we can keep going down to the kennels to him.

 

[Whippet93]

Checks could take place at either end. Rarely have we been stopped and checked apart from 'is the gas off? On one trip out they checked the van inside and out (including underneath), and then again when we got off the other end when the Dutch put us through the same routine. Whether that was bad luck or or acting on specific intelligence I don't know but the Dutch pulled over every caravan and van we saw for checks. Never had the fridge contents checked, although on one occasion was asked if we had any knives on board! Eh... yes. It's a motorhome. Showed them the drawer and they were happy but asked us to not take any knives outside the van.

We have been more thoroughly searched many more times on the way back, but even then they are not looking for the additional bottle of wine. I brought a case of wine back on one occasion and had to show UK customers it was sealed wine bottles and not spirits in a box labelled wine.

How often do they check your drawers?

 

[Markman]

Done the crossing several times.
Fridge never checked

BUT they do insist you turn off the gas before boarding.

So just incase your 'friend' happened to have a full fridge, then the best thing to do is to freeze about 4 of the 1.5 litre large fizzy pop bottles.
And then put them in the fridge before you leave home.
As long as the door stays closed, the fridge will still be cold on arrival in Holland.

That said, right opposite the ferry port exit is a large Albert Heijn supermarket with a large carpark big enough for motorhomes.
(Albert Heijn is the equivalent of Sainsburys in the UK, they take cash and cards, but not Visa or Mastercard associated cards!!!!!)

Confirm The Netherlands is weird and doesn't take non- Dutch cards (go there regularly, my mother in law lives in the Achterhoek).

BUT Google pay/Apple pay, linked to the very same cards they reject, works perfectly!

 

[Markman]

As meanders pointed out, Ipswich Morrisons is your best option - LPG filling stations in the area are very limited unfortunately

Almost every petrol station in Holland (and actually all the provinces of The Netherlands, beside someone points this out) has LPG (or.GPL, gas petroleum liquifij).

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