What Are the 5 Tips for Planning an Amsterdam Light Festival Group Visit?

  • Thomas van Loon
  • 🕐 6 min leestijd

The best way to plan a group visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival is to book early, choose the right type of boat, and combine food and drinks with the programme. The five most important tips are: book in time (preferably months in advance), choose a boat that suits your group size, combine the cruise with on-board catering, decide whether you want a private cruise or a shared boat tour, and plan the evening around the official festival route past the light artworks. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about a group visit to the festival.

How far in advance should you book a group visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival?

For a group visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival, it is best to book two to four months in advance. The festival attracts large numbers of visitors every year, and the popular dates in December and January fill up quickly, especially for private arrangements and larger groups. Waiting too long risks losing your preferred date or time slot.

This applies in particular to groups that want to hire a private boat. The availability of boats is limited, and demand is high during the busy festival weeks. If you want to combine the festival with a Christmas drinks reception or end-of-year party, competition is even fiercer: many companies plan their outing in exactly that period.

If you prefer more flexibility, you can also look at the quieter weeks at the beginning or end of the festival. Availability is greater then, and evenings on the water are a little calmer. But for the most sought-after evenings in December, the rule is: the earlier you book, the better.

Which type of boat is most suitable for a group visit to the festival?

For a group visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival, a covered, heated salon boat is the most suitable choice. The festival takes place in winter, which means open boats or dinghies quickly become uncomfortably cold. A covered boat ensures that everyone can admire the light artworks in comfort and dry conditions, regardless of the weather.

Which type of boat suits best also depends on group size. Smaller groups of 15 to 25 people can easily be accommodated on a compact salon boat. Larger parties need more space and can opt for a bigger boat or multiple boats sailing together.

With us, all boats run on electricity. That means no engine noise — only the sound of the water. This makes the experience on the canals much more pleasant, especially if you want to eat or have drinks on board at the same time. All boats are also equipped with a toilet, which is far from a luxury during an evening of two hours.

For groups that want a specific boat, have a particular boarding location, or have additional requests regarding catering or layout, a tailor-made private boat is the best choice. The boat will then be fully tailored to your group and wishes.

Can you combine food and drinks with an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?

Yes, combining food and drinks with an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise is very much possible, and for many groups it is precisely the reason to choose a boat trip. Instead of eating somewhere first and then going to the festival, you combine everything in one evening on the water. That saves time, hassle, and extra travel around the city.

Several catering options are available, depending on what suits your evening:

  • Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury bites on board, ideal for an informal drinks reception or team outing. From €47.50 per person.
  • Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, suitable for corporate outings and group dinners. From €84.50 per person.
  • Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet on board, popular for festive gatherings. From €89.50 per person.
  • Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with a chef on board, suitable for Christmas dinners and business dinners. From €129.50 per person.
  • Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): multiple small dishes, guests move freely around the boat, ideal for networking. From €132.50 per person.

For all arrangements, the boat is fully reserved exclusively for your group. There are no other guests on board. This makes it easier to network, raise a toast, or simply enjoy yourselves together without having to consider strangers.

Would you like something very specific, such as an open bar, selected wines, or a customised menu? We are happy to arrange that via a tailor-made private cruise for groups.

What is the difference between a private cruise and a shared boat tour during the festival?

The most important difference is that with a private cruise the entire boat is exclusively for your group, whereas with a shared boat tour you share the boat with other visitors you do not know. Both options sail along the official Amsterdam Light Festival route past the light artworks, but the experience differs greatly.

With a shared boat tour, you buy an individual ticket and board a boat with other visitors. This is the most accessible option for couples, individual visitors, or small groups of up to 6 people. The cruise lasts 75 minutes, departs three times a day, and can be booked directly online. An English-speaking guide explains the artworks.

A private cruise is a different experience altogether. The boat is entirely yours, you choose your own departure time (subject to availability), you can arrange catering and drinks, and there is no need to take other guests into account. For corporate outings, Christmas drinks receptions, or groups that want to celebrate something special together, a private cruise is almost always the better choice.

We offer both options. The Amsterdam Light Festival shared boat tour is available for small groups. For groups of 15 or more, the Private Cruise Packages are the most straightforward option, with a fixed price per person and everything included.

Which route does a boat follow during the Amsterdam Light Festival?

During the Amsterdam Light Festival, boats follow the official festival route through Amsterdam’s canals, past approximately 20 light artworks by national and international artists. The route runs through the city’s historic canal network and offers a unique perspective on the artworks, which are specially designed to be experienced from the water.

The exact route may vary slightly per cruise, depending on water traffic, the weather, and the boarding location. Experienced skippers know the canals and adjust the route where necessary, so you see as many artworks as possible. Private cruises offer more flexibility in the route than shared boat tours.

We have more than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, which means groups can often board close to their hotel, office, or restaurant. This makes logistics considerably easier, especially for larger groups.

How do you organise an Amsterdam Light Festival corporate outing without any hassle?

The easiest way to organise an Amsterdam Light Festival corporate outing is to opt for a complete private arrangement that combines the activity, food, and drinks. That way you do not need to arrange separate suppliers for a restaurant, transport, and the festival itself. Everything is in one package, in one location: the boat.

Most of the hassle when organising a corporate outing lies in combining different elements. A boat solves that: the group boards, the evening begins, food and drinks are served, and the festival passes by while everyone sits comfortably on board. Afterwards, everyone disembarks at an agreed location.

Practically speaking, it helps to start planning early, set a clear budget per person, and choose between a fixed arrangement or a fully customised programme. For groups with specific requests regarding catering, entertainment, or timing, a tailor-made approach is the better choice. For groups that want to book quickly and straightforwardly, the fixed arrangements with a price per person work best.

Also check the dedicated page about the Christmas cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival if your outing coincides with the holiday season.

How Rederij De Nederlanden helps you plan your group visit

We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and offer private cruises specifically for groups, companies, and events. Here is what we concretely arrange for you:

  • Private Cruise Packages: fixed arrangements with a clear price per person, including boat hire, skipper, crew, and catering. Suitable for groups of 15 or more who want to book quickly and straightforwardly.
  • Custom Private Cruise: a fully tailor-made cruise where you choose the boat, catering, drinks, boarding location, and timing yourself. Ideal for larger groups or groups with specific requests.
  • Shared Tickets: for couples, individual visitors, and small groups of up to 6 people. Book directly online, 75 minutes, with an English-speaking guide and three departures per day.
  • All boats are covered, heated, and equipped with a toilet, so the festival can be enjoyed in comfort even in winter.
  • More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam, so the boat can depart close to your location.

Would you like to arrange an evening where the activity, food, and drinks all come together in one place? View our arrangements for groups or contact us for a tailor-made quote. We are happy to think along about what suits your group and budget best.

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