Which 5 Activities Combine Well With the Amsterdam Light Festival?

  • Thomas van Loon
  • 🕐 6 min leestijd

The five activities that combine best with the Amsterdam Light Festival are: a canal cruise, a dinner cruise or drinks on the water, walking along the light art installations, dining at a restaurant near the route, and a corporate outing that combines an activity and dinner. Which combination works best depends on your group size, budget, and whether you want a fully catered evening or prefer to put the evening together yourself. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about combining activities with the festival.

Why is a canal cruise the most popular combination with the Amsterdam Light Festival?

A canal cruise is the most popular combination with the Amsterdam Light Festival because you see the light art installations from the water, exactly as they were designed. Many works hang above or along the canals and are only partially visible on foot. From a boat you see the full installations, including their reflections in the water, and that makes all the difference.

The festival features around 20 light art installations spread across the Amsterdam canals. On foot you can walk part of the route, but you miss the works that hang above the water or are best viewed from a low perspective. A boat takes you along the official festival route and gives you a complete picture of the programme.

On top of that, Amsterdam is quite busy in winter during the festival. On the water you don’t have to deal with crowds on the bridges, and you can enjoy the experience at a leisurely pace without having to wait or keep moving. That makes the canal cruise not only visually more appealing, but simply more comfortable as well.

With us you can choose between a private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival or, for smaller groups of up to 6 people, a Shared Ticket for a shared cruise. The private option comes in two forms: fixed packages with a clear price per person, or a fully customised cruise. Our boats are covered and heated, so the winter cold is not a factor.

What makes a dinner cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival so special?

A dinner cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival combines three things at once: light art, great food, and a private atmosphere on the water. You don’t have to choose between a night out and a dinner, because everything happens in the same place. That makes it a complete evening without the hassle of reservations at multiple venues.

Restaurants near the festival route, such as in the Jordaan or around Leidseplein, are a good option if you want to eat first and then walk or sail the route. Think cosy brown cafés with a winter menu, or some more modern eateries along the Prinsengracht. That works well for an informal evening with friends or a small group.

If you want to combine dining and the festival in one seamless experience, a dinner cruise on the water is a logical choice. The boat sails past the light art installations while you sit at the table. No fuss with coats on and off, no cold walk between two appointments.

At Rederij De Nederlanden we offer several catering options on board, depending on what suits your group. From luxury snacks during a drinks cruise to a hot and cold buffet, an Italian buffet, a three-course dinner with an on-board chef, or a walking dinner where everyone can move around freely and network. The entire boat is always reserved exclusively for your group — no other guests on board.

How do you combine a corporate outing with the Amsterdam Light Festival?

Combining a corporate outing with the Amsterdam Light Festival works best when you bring the activity, food, and drinks together in one location or one continuous programme. The most practical approach is a private cruise along the festival route with catering on board, so your colleagues don’t have to travel between venues and the evening feels like one cohesive whole.

There are also other ways to organise a corporate outing around the festival. A few concrete options:

  • Canal cruise as the main activity, followed by dinner nearby. Board at one of the boarding locations along the route, sail past the light art installations, and end the evening at a restaurant in the Jordaan or at Leidseplein.
  • Drinks at a brown café or tasting venue, followed by a canal cruise. Start the evening with informal drinks at one of the cafés along the canals, then board the boat for the light festival route.
  • Private cruise with catering on board. Activity, drinks, and dinner in one. No logistics, no hassle, and the group stays together all evening.

For larger groups, the private cruise with catering on board is often the most practical choice. It prevents you from having to coordinate a large group across the city and ensures that everyone has the same experience. We can accommodate groups of up to 60 people on one boat; for larger groups we combine multiple boats.

Want to know more about the options for groups? Check out our page on the Amsterdam Light Festival for groups.

What other activities in Amsterdam combine well with the festival?

In addition to a canal cruise, there are several activities in Amsterdam that combine well with the Amsterdam Light Festival. The festival route runs through the city centre and connects well with other things Amsterdam has to offer in winter.

  • Walking along the light art installations. Part of the route can also be explored on foot, particularly along the Keizersgracht and Herengracht. Combine this with a hot chocolate or mulled wine at one of the nearby winter markets.
  • A visit to a museum. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum are within cycling distance of the festival route. An afternoon visit followed by the light festival route in the evening is a popular combination, especially for international guests.
  • Winter market or Christmas market. Amsterdam has several winter markets during the festival period, including on the Museumplein and around the Amstel. Easy to combine as a pre- or post-programme.
  • Dining in the Jordaan or at Leidseplein. Both neighbourhoods are along or close to the festival route. The Jordaan has many smaller, atmospheric restaurants; Leidseplein is larger and more suitable for bigger groups that want flexibility.
  • Escape room or other group activity. For corporate outings that want more than just sightseeing, there are several escape rooms and other group activities in the city centre that work well as a warm-up for the festival evening.

The combination that comes up most often with groups: first an activity or dinner, then the Amsterdam Light Festival route as the highlight of the evening. That works well because the festival is most impressive when it is completely dark, so later in the evening.

When is the best time to book an Amsterdam Light Festival package?

The best time to book a package for the Amsterdam Light Festival is as early as possible, preferably two to three months before the festival begins. The most popular dates, such as weekends and the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, fill up quickly. Those who wait too long will have fewer choices in terms of boats, time slots, and catering options.

The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place annually in winter, typically from late November through January. In 2026 the festival is expected to run during the same period. The busiest weeks are the Christmas holidays and the New Year period; anyone wanting to cruise then is wise to book early.

For companies planning a Christmas drinks event, Christmas dinner, or end-of-year party, planning often starts as early as September or October. At that point the best time slots are still available and there is room to properly align the catering and programme. If you wait until November, you have less flexibility.

Take a look at the available Amsterdam Light Festival dates to see which evenings are still open and exactly when the festival takes place.

How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your Light Festival evening

Whether you want an informal drinks event on the water, a fully catered Christmas dinner, or a private cruise for a large group, we take care of it. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail along the official route featuring around 20 light art installations, on covered and heated historic salon boats.

  • Private Cruise Packages: fixed packages with a clear price per person, including boat hire, skipper, crew, and catering. From €47.50 per person, suitable for groups from 15 people. Easy to book, everything arranged.
  • Custom Private Cruise: fully tailored, your own boat, your own catering, your own time slot and boarding location. From €250 per hour, minimum 2 hours. Ideal for larger groups or groups with specific requirements around dinner, entertainment, or logistics.
  • Shared Tickets: for couples and small groups of up to 6 people. Lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, with an English-speaking guide. From €32 per person, bookable directly online.
  • 150+ boarding locations in Amsterdam, so you depart from a spot that is convenient for your group.
  • All boats covered and heated, so the winter weather is not a factor.

Want to know which option suits your group best? View our offer for groups or contact us and we will be happy to think along with you.

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