The most beautiful photo spots during the Amsterdam Light Festival can be found along the historic Amsterdam canals, particularly around the Keizersgracht, the Reguliersgracht, and the Amstel. The light artworks are strategically spread across the water and quaysides, allowing you to capture stunning shots both on foot and by boat. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about photographing during the festival, from the best locations to handy camera tips.
Which locations offer the most beautiful photos during the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The best photo spots during the Amsterdam Light Festival are located along the Keizersgracht, the Reguliersgracht, the Herengracht, and the Amstel. These locations combine historic canal houses with spectacular light reflections on the water, resulting in the most impressive images. Each year the exact arrangement of artworks changes, but these canals traditionally form the core of the Amsterdam Light Festival route.
A few specific spots that stand out year after year:
- The Reguliersgracht with its seven bridges offers unique sightlines where multiple illuminated bridges appear in the frame at once.
- The Keizersgracht is wide enough to place artworks in the middle of the water, creating reflections that instantly add an extra dimension to your photo.
- The Amstel near the Magere Brug is a classic location: the illuminated bridge combined with light art on the water makes this one of the most photographed spots of the festival.
- The Herengracht at the Gouden Bocht combines grand architecture with atmospheric lighting, ideal for wider landscape shots.
Keep in mind that the exact locations of the artworks can change each year. Check the official festival map in advance so you know where the newest works are and can plan your route wisely.
What is the best time to photograph the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The best time to photograph the Amsterdam Light Festival is the so-called blue hour, the period of approximately 20 to 45 minutes after sunset. At that moment the sky is still light enough to show structure and colour, while the light artworks are already fully visible. This creates a natural balance between background and artwork that disappears later in the evening.
Keep the following time indications in mind:
- Blue hour (recommended): directly after sunset, around 17:00 to 17:45 in December and January.
- Early evening (17:30 to 19:00): still relatively quiet on the quaysides and canals, giving you more space for undisturbed shots.
- Later in the evening (after 20:00): the artworks stand out more strongly in complete darkness, but crowds increase and the background disappears.
If you are planning a group outing or corporate activity, early evening is also pleasant: you can combine photographing with drinks or dinner and still have enough light for good photos.
How do you photograph light art on the water without blurry photos?
To take sharp photos of light art on the water you need a stable base and the right settings. Moving light sources in a dark environment are technically challenging, but with a few adjustments you can get a long way. The biggest problem is the combination of low ambient light and moving elements, such as waves, passing boats, or wind in the artworks.
Camera settings
- Use a high ISO (800 to 3200) to get enough light on the sensor without making the shutter speed too long.
- Choose a wide aperture (f/1.8 to f/2.8) if you have a fast lens.
- Keep the shutter speed short (1/60 second or faster) if you want to freeze movement, especially on a boat.
Stabilisation and setup
- Use a tripod or monopod on the quayside for longer shutter speeds and sharp reflections on the water.
- If you are shooting from a boat, enable image stabilisation and increase the ISO rather than extending the shutter speed.
- Use the timer or a remote control to prevent camera movement when pressing the shutter.
Smartphone photographers can also achieve great results by activating night mode and resting the phone against a railing or bag for support. Perfect technique is great, but the atmosphere of the festival is already so special that even a simple photo looks good.
Are the photo spots better reached by boat or on foot?
Both on foot and by boat, the Amsterdam Light Festival offers fantastic photo opportunities, but they provide fundamentally different perspectives. On foot you photograph the artworks at water level or from a bird’s-eye view on a bridge, while by boat you sail right among the works and can capture reflections up close. The choice depends on what you want to achieve.
On foot:
- Stable ground, ideal for a tripod and long shutter speeds.
- Free to choose when you stop and how long you stay at an artwork.
- Bridges offer elevated viewpoints with sightlines across multiple light works at once.
- Crowded at popular spots, especially on weekends.
By boat:
- Unique water perspective that cannot be reached on foot.
- Reflections of light art in the dark water are most beautiful from a low position on the water.
- Fewer other visitors in the frame.
- The movement of the boat calls for a higher ISO and a faster shutter speed.
Many festival-goers combine both: a walk along the quaysides for stable shots and a boat trip for unique water images. That is actually the ideal approach if you want to make a complete evening of the Amsterdam Light Festival.
Which artworks of the Amsterdam Light Festival are the most photogenic?
The most photogenic artworks of the Amsterdam Light Festival are typically the large, symmetrical installations on the water that produce strong reflections and are clearly visible from multiple angles. Works that display movement or colour changes also score highly: they give you the opportunity to capture multiple atmospheres during a single visit. Which works these are exactly changes each year, as the festival always presents new artists and installations.
In general, these are the characteristics of the most photogenic pieces:
- Large scale: works that fill the width of a canal or rise high above the water dominate the image and are visible from a distance.
- Strong reflection: installations with bright, single light sources mirror beautifully in the water, especially in calm weather.
- Colour and contrast: works with warm tones against the cool evening sky or vivid colours against dark canal houses immediately stand out.
- Interaction with the surroundings: artworks that use Amsterdam’s historic architecture as a backdrop, such as light projected onto facades, are always popular with photographers.
Look at the festival map and the descriptions of the participating artists in advance. This allows you to head directly to the works that appeal to you most and avoid being surprised by a long walk to an artwork that turns out to be less impressive than expected.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with the Amsterdam Light Festival
If you want to experience the Amsterdam Light Festival from the water, you can choose from three options with us, depending on your group and wishes:
- Custom Private Cruise: a fully tailored private cruise, including your own choice of boat, catering to your wishes (from luxury snacks to a walking dinner or three-course dinner) and a departure location that suits you. Ideal for companies, larger groups, or anyone with specific requirements. From €250 per hour, minimum 2 hours.
- Private Cruise Packages: pre-arranged packages with a clear price per person, such as the Drinks & Bites Cruise (from €47.50 p.p.) or the Dinner Cruise with a chef on board (from €129.50 p.p.). The boat is exclusively for your group, everything is arranged, and you know exactly what to expect. Suitable for groups from 15 persons.
- Shared Tickets: a shared canal tour along the official festival route, with an English-speaking guide. Lasts 75 minutes, departs three times a day, and can be booked directly online from €32 per person. Suitable for couples, individual visitors, and small groups of up to 6 persons.
We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and sail past approximately 20 light artworks on the official route. Our boats are covered and heated, so the winter cold is no spoilsport. With more than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, you always depart from a spot that suits you.
Ready to experience the festival on the water? View our private boat packages or go directly to the group cruises page for an overview of all options. Do you have a specific request or a large group? Contact us and we will be happy to think along with you.