A visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival is extra special for groups when you combine the light artworks with a private boat, a dinner on board, or a well-organised company outing. The five experiences that make the festival truly special for groups are: a private cruise past the artworks, a dinner or drinks on the water, the right boat size for your group, the festival as a company outing or Christmas drinks event, and a well-booked group package. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about the Amsterdam Light Festival for groups, so you can plan a complete evening.
What makes a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival so unique?
A private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival is unique because you experience the approximately 20 light artworks along the Amsterdam canals on a boat that is fully reserved for your own group. No strangers around you, no fixed departure times of others, and all the space to celebrate it in your own way. That is fundamentally different from a shared boat tour.
The Amsterdam Light Festival transforms the Amsterdam canals into an open-air gallery of light art every year. The artworks are projected onto façades, float on the water, or hang above the bridges. From the water you see them up close and from a perspective you cannot get on foot. That makes sailing one of the most beautiful ways to experience the festival.
With a private cruise you add an extra layer to that: the boat is yours. That means you decide when to linger longer at an artwork, that you can talk freely without having to consider other visitors, and that you can combine the evening with snacks, drinks, or a full dinner. The heated and covered historic salon boats also ensure that the weather plays no role. Winter-proof sailing — that is exactly what you need in December and January.
Want to experience the festival from the water? On our Amsterdam Light Festival private boat page you will find all the options for a private cruise with your own group.
Besides sailing, there are of course other ways to experience the festival. Walking along the official route is free and gives you the chance to view the artworks up close. Many visitors combine a walk with a stop at a café or restaurant in the Jordaan or the Nine Streets, two neighbourhoods located right in the heart of the festival route. Guided walking tours are also available, sometimes with a guide who explains the background of the artworks.
How do you combine a dinner with the Amsterdam Light Festival on the water?
You combine a dinner with the Amsterdam Light Festival on the water by booking a dinner cruise where you eat and drink while sailing past the light artworks. This can be on a private boat with a chef on board, but a good combination is also possible at a restaurant along the festival route.
If you really want to merge the dinner and the festival, there are a few concrete options. Restaurants in the Jordaan, on the Prinsengracht, or along the Keizersgracht are literally on the festival route. You can dine there with a view of the artworks, or walk the route directly after dinner. Think of traditional Dutch brown cafés with a warm winter menu, but also of more modern eateries that put together a special festival evening during the festival.
If you want to combine dining and the festival without changing location, sailing is the most practical solution. With us you can choose from several catering formats on board, tailored to what suits your group best:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury snacks on board, ideal for an informal drinks event or team outing. From €47.50 per person for 15 to 25 people.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet on board, suitable for company outings and group dinners. From €84.50 per person for 15 to 25 people.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet, popular for festive gatherings and corporate events. From €89.50 per person for 15 to 25 people.
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with a chef on board, perfect for Christmas dinners and business dinners. From €129.50 per person for 15 to 25 people.
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): several small courses, chef on board, free to move around and network. From €132.50 per person for 15 to 25 people.
The entire boat is always reserved exclusively for your group, meaning there are no other guests on board. That also makes it a pleasant setting for a private dinner: maximum privacy and all the space for your own programme.
View our dinner cruise options for a complete overview of the possibilities.
Which boat size suits your group during the Light Festival?
The right boat size during the Amsterdam Light Festival depends on the number of people in your group. Our boats are suitable for groups from 15 people, and for larger groups multiple boats can be combined. The boat is always matched to the group size, so everyone sits comfortably.
For smaller groups — think of a team of 15 to 30 people — one of our smaller salon boats is sufficient. These are covered, heated, and have a toilet on board. For medium-sized groups of 30 to 60 people, larger boats are available that can accommodate everyone together on one boat. That is convenient, as the group stays together and you do not need to coordinate the evening across multiple boats.
For large groups of more than 60 people, we combine multiple boats so that even a large group can experience the festival together. If you want to be sure of a specific boat, a Custom Private Cruise is the best choice: you can select the boat yourself and the layout is fully tailored to your wishes.
Not sure yet what suits your group? On the page for groups we explain the options clearly.
Why is the Amsterdam Light Festival ideal for a company outing or Christmas drinks event?
The Amsterdam Light Festival is ideal for a company outing or Christmas drinks event because it offers a ready-made atmosphere that you do not have to create yourself. The light artworks, the wintry canals, and the possibility of eating and drinking on board make it a complete evening all at once. That saves an organiser a great deal of work.
A company outing succeeds when the activity, the food, and the drinks come together in one place. That is exactly what a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival offers. No hassle with planning a restaurant afterwards, no group splitting up because half wants to go left and the other half right. Everyone sits together on the boat, the programme runs smoothly, and the atmosphere does the rest.
For a Christmas drinks event or end-of-year party, the festival is also attractive for another reason: it falls exactly in the period when companies are looking for something original. Most colleagues are already familiar with a standard venue hire or a restaurant dinner. A private boat on the illuminated Amsterdam canals is considerably less so.
Would you also like to combine the festival with a cultural or creative activity? Then consider starting the evening with a guided walk past the artworks on foot, followed by drinks or dinner on the water. That gives the evening two clear moments and a natural rhythm.
Want to know more about company outings on the water? View our page about company outings in Amsterdam.
How do you book a group package for the Amsterdam Light Festival?
You book a group package for the Amsterdam Light Festival by choosing between a fixed package with a clear price per person or a fully customised private cruise. Both options are available through Rederij De Nederlanden. Booking early is strongly recommended, as the festival period is busy and availability is limited.
The process is straightforward. You first choose which format suits your group best:
- Private Cruise Package: a fixed arrangement with a clear price per person, including boat hire, skipper, crew, and catering. Suitable for groups that want to book quickly and easily without having to make many choices.
- Custom Private Cruise: a fully tailored private cruise where you choose the boat, catering, drinks, timing, and boarding location yourself. Particularly suitable for larger groups or groups with specific wishes.
- Shared Tickets: for small groups of up to 6 people, a shared boat tour is also available. The cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, has an English-speaking guide, and departs three times a day. Book directly online from €32 per person.
Please note: in addition to the boat price, a festival surcharge and a VMR entertainment tax apply. These are charged separately. Please take this into account in your budget.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your Amsterdam Light Festival evening
Whether you are planning an informal Christmas drinks event or a fully catered end-of-year party for a large group, we arrange everything from start to finish. This is what we offer:
- Private boat exclusively for your group, matched to the group size
- Choice of fixed packages (from €47.50 per person) or fully bespoke arrangements
- Catering on board: from luxury snacks to a three-course dinner with a chef
- Heated and covered historic salon boats, winter-proof
- More than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam
- Official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival
- Groups of up to 60 people on one boat; larger groups possible with multiple boats
Want to know what the possibilities are for your group? Contact us and we will be happy to think along with you about the best arrangement for your evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival.