Amsterdam Light Festival boats

What type of boats are used for the Amsterdam Light Festival?

Our fleet ranges from intimate historic saloon boats to spacious event vessels for large groups. All our Amsterdam Light Festival boats are fully electric, covered, heated and equipped with toilets, making them ideal for comfortable winter cruises.

Are your Amsterdam Light Festival boats historic?

Yes. We operate a genuinely historic fleet, with several vessels more than a century old. Hildebrand was built in 1880, Proost van Sint Jan in 1886, Jacob van Lennep in 1888 and Najade in 1912. Our larger vessels are historic too: Peter de Grote dates from 1939 and Wapen van Amsterdam from 1947.

This allows you to experience the modern light artworks aboard vessels that have been part of Amsterdam’s waterways for generations.

Which boats are used for the shared Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?

Our shared ticket cruises are operated aboard our luxury saloon boats, such as Proost van Sint Jan, Bredero and Multatuli. These comfortable vessels are covered, heated and designed to provide excellent views of the illuminated artworks.

Can I book an entire Amsterdam Light Festival boat privately?

Yes. You can charter one of our boats exclusively for your group. A Private Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tour gives you much more freedom to choose your preferred vessel, catering, drinks, layout and boarding location.

Can I also buy individual tickets instead of renting a boat?

Yes. Our shared Amsterdam Light Festival cruises allow you to simply book individual tickets. They’re ideal for couples, families, friends and smaller groups that don’t require an entire private boat.

What is included with a shared Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?

Our shared cruises include drinks and table bites in the ticket price. Simply book your seats, step aboard and enjoy the festival.

Are the Amsterdam Light Festival boats covered?

Yes. Our boats are covered to protect guests from rain, wind and winter weather while still providing excellent views of the artworks along the route.

Are the boats heated during winter?

Yes. All our Amsterdam Light Festival boats feature regular heating as well as infrared heating, keeping the interior comfortable throughout cold winter evenings.

Do the boats have toilets?

Yes. All our Amsterdam Light Festival boats have toilet facilities on board. Photos of the toilets and other onboard facilities can be found on each individual boat page.

Are all your Amsterdam Light Festival boats electric?

Yes. Our entire fleet is fully electric, allowing you to cruise quietly through Amsterdam’s canals without the noise of a traditional diesel engine. This creates a much more pleasant atmosphere for dining, conversation and enjoying the artworks.

Are the boats decorated during the Amsterdam Light Festival?

Yes. During the festival and Christmas season, we decorate our boats with atmospheric lighting and Christmas ornaments, creating a warm and festive atmosphere on board.

Can we bring our own decorations on a private boat?

Yes. Private groups are welcome to bring their own decorations in addition to our seasonal decorations. This is particularly popular for Christmas parties, corporate events, birthdays and other celebrations. Please discuss larger decorations or installations with our team beforehand.

Can we customise the layout of our boat?

Yes. Most of our ships have a flexible floor plan, allowing us to adapt the setup to your event. Depending on the vessel, we can create layouts for seated dinners, receptions, networking events or a combination of seated and standing areas.

Proost van Sint Jan and Najade have fixed layouts, while most of our other vessels offer greater flexibility.

Can we have food and drinks on board?

Absolutely. Our boats have fully stocked bars and space for onboard catering. Private cruises can include everything from drinks and luxury bites to buffets, walking dinners and complete private dining experiences.

Can we have a private chef on board?

Yes. Selected dining arrangements include a private chef preparing and serving the dishes fresh on board, allowing you to combine the Amsterdam Light Festival with a complete culinary experience.

Can we choose our own Amsterdam Light Festival boat?

Yes, when booking a bespoke private cruise you can select your preferred vessel, subject to availability.

For our fixed private cruise packages and shared ticket cruises, the vessel is assigned based on group size, availability and operational planning.

Which Amsterdam Light Festival boat is best for a large group?

Our fleet includes several vessels designed for larger groups. Peter de Grote and Wapen van Amsterdam offer significantly more space for large celebrations, corporate events, catering and flexible onboard layouts.

Our team can recommend the most suitable vessel based on your group size and plans for the evening.

Do all boats follow the complete Amsterdam Light Festival route?

Most of our smaller vessels can navigate the regular Amsterdam Light Festival route.

Due to their size, Peter de Grote and Wapen van Amsterdam cannot navigate the entire festival route. Instead, these vessels follow an alternative route that allows guests to experience a large part of the festival, including areas around the Nieuwe Herengracht, Oosterdok and Amstel.

Where do the Amsterdam Light Festival boats depart from?

Our shared ticket cruises depart from Singel 359.

For private cruises, our standard boarding locations are:

• Singel 9
• Singel 250
• Singel 359
• Amsterdam Central Station

These standard locations are approximately 15 minutes by boat from the Amsterdam Light Festival route.

Can a private boat pick us up somewhere else in Amsterdam?

Yes. Our private boats have access to more than 150 boarding locations throughout Amsterdam, making it possible to start your cruise close to your office, hotel, restaurant or event venue.

Alternative boarding and drop-off locations can be arranged for an additional call-out fee.

What about boarding locations for Peter de Grote and Wapen van Amsterdam?

Due to their size, Peter de Grote and Wapen van Amsterdam can only use selected docks. Their standard boarding location is Ms. van Riemsdijkweg 51. Alternative suitable locations can be selected from our large-ship boarding locations.

Can we play our own music on board?

Yes. Many of our boats have an onboard sound system that can be connected via Bluetooth. Amsterdam regulations limit music aboard commercial passenger vessels to 76 dB, making it suitable for atmospheric background music rather than a nightclub setting.

Do the Amsterdam Light Festival boats sail when it rains or snows?

Yes. Rain, snow and freezing temperatures normally don’t prevent us from sailing. Our boats are covered and heated, making them suitable for winter cruising.

We only cancel in exceptional circumstances, such as an official KNMI Code Red warning, frozen canals or weather conditions that make sailing unsafe.

How do I choose between a private and shared Amsterdam Light Festival boat?

Choose a shared Amsterdam Light Festival cruise if you want to book individual tickets with drinks and table bites already included.

Choose a private Amsterdam Light Festival boat if you want the vessel exclusively for your group and more freedom to select your boat, catering, drinks, layout and boarding location.

Can you help me choose the right Amsterdam Light Festival boat?

Absolutely. Tell us your group size, preferred date, type of event and catering requirements, and our team can recommend the boats that best suit your plans.