...I quite like the Harwich-Hoek crossing.
In reality, the Hull-Rotterdam route should be more attractive for us, but the boats are timed such that both Hull and the Dutch motorways are completely gridlocked at the time you would want to traverse them for both the outward and return crossings, a less than appealing prospect.
Harwich is very little problem at all in its approach to the ferry, and the Hoek is rather better for getting to and away from the crossing than Rotterdam (Europort). Pre-covid, the morning and evening rush-hours have rendered the Dutch motorways round that area into 30mile plus car parks (not just a one-off, every occasion we've used Hoek or Rotterdam). The exit from, and entry to, the Hoek, however has been the less congested of the two (and if you're prepared to venture through The Hague, it's easier to get a good distance before hitting the busiest motorways).
I prefer the Stena boats to the P&O ones as well. In our experience the accommodation has been better, and the lack of concentration on "entertainment" that there is on the Hull-Rotterdam service also suits.
I suspect from the post you're on the overnight crossing. We've tended (with the motorhome) to use this on the outward journey, in order to get a fresh morning start for some miles under our belt, but use the daytime (afternoon) crossing on return, since it is viable to get home the same evening (albeit late evening). We have a very nice and convenient overnight spot at Culemborg that just fits with that. Doing it that way makes it competitive with the tunnel, and rather cheaper than Hull-Rotterdam.
The Netherlands isn't my favourite EU destination, though we've found some interesting areas on our explorations.
Enjoy your break.
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