Van der Voort led the match on three occasions, only to see Hamilton hit back on each occasion before claiming the final set 3-1 to reach the third round, where he will face either Phil Taylor or Dave Chisnall.
"I felt I was struggling a bit in the opening two sets," admitted Hamilton. "I was chasing the game all the time, but I'm a fighter and I kept fighting.
"It was a great match to be involved in and I am delighted to have won it and reach the next round."
Both players held throw at the start of the match, before Hamilton claimed a break of throw in the third with an accurate attempt at double eight.
Van der Voort responded immediately by hitting double four to break, before a dramatic deciding leg saw the Stoke ace just miss a dart at bullseye for a 161 checkout only to see the Dutchman hit the bed to complete an 83 finish to pinch the set.
Hamilton recovered from that disappointment to win the first two legs of the second set, to take an early advantage.
Hamilton, who came through a five-set match against the excellent Antonio Alcinas in the first round, then hit double ten in the third leg, to win the set without reply and level the match.
Van der Voort started the third set confidently, with an 11-dart finish, but Hamilton took the second in the same manner by taking out 98.
The Dutchman then finished 86 to lead again, but Hamilton held throw with a 100 checkout to claim the fourth leg in 12 darts.
The deciding leg saw van der Voort miss three darts to win the set, but Hamilton could not set up an opportunity at a double and he returned to hit double two to lead the match for the second time.
Hamilton won the opening leg of set four on double 16 before the Dutchman claimed the second by taking out 65 in two darts, but van der Voort missed the bull for a 123 finish in the third as the Stoke ace stepped in on double ten.
The fourth leg saw van der Voort hit his first 180 of the game, and he followed that with a superb 121 checkout for a 12-darter to leve the set.
However, the deciding leg saw the Dutchman miss a dart at double 16 to win the set, and Hamilton held his nerve to hit double top and leave the match finely balanced at two apiece.
Van der Voort hit a 110 checkout to kick off the fifth set and then converted a 72 finish in two darts to take the next.
The Dutchman then won the third leg with a 13-darter to win the set without reply, landing double 12 for the second consecutive leg to regain the lead once more.
Hamilton was off-target with darts at doubles in first leg of the sixth set, but van der Voort missed six chances of his own to allow the Stoke man to take the leg on double two.
Van der Voort hit back with a superb 148 checkout to take the second leg, but Hamilton hit an accomplished 13-dart finish to lead again.
The Dutchman hit double eight to force a deciding leg with a 13-darter of his own, before Hamilton kicked off leg five with back-to-back maximums.
His hopes of a nine-darter were extinguished when his seventh dart missed the treble 20, but the leg was won in 12 darts, completed by landing double four, as he levelled the match for a third time.
Both players held their throws at the start of the final set, before van der Voort missed three darts at doubles, allowing his opponent to secure a vital break of throw and move a leg away from the match at 2-1.
The fourth leg saw Hamilton hit a superb 174 to leave 36, only for van der Voort to hit a 180 in reply to leave the same score.
Hamilton had first opportunity at the double, and he calmly slotted double 18 at the first time of asking to end a thrilling match and ensure his place in the third round.
"It was a great atmosphere and Vincent had some fantastic support, but I made that into a positive," he added.
"I wasn't aggressive in the first couple of sets but I need to be pumped up and I'll have that in the next game against either Phil Taylor or Dave Chisnall.
"I'm not scared of Phil and it will be great if we play in the next round - two Stoke guys together - but I'd also love to follow Phil and Adrian Lewis and be the next World Champion from Stoke."
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