The best way to combine the Amsterdam Light Festival with an evening in Amsterdam is to pair the canal cruise with a dinner or drinks, and to start or end the evening with a walk along the illuminated canals. The festival takes place in the city centre, which means restaurants, cafés, and other activities are within walking distance. Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about how to make a complete evening of it.
What are the best activities around the Amsterdam Light Festival?
Around the Amsterdam Light Festival, there are three activities that combine well: the walking route along the light artworks, a canal cruise, and a dinner or drinks nearby. Which combination works best depends on how much time you have and whether you’re going with a small or larger group.
The walking route is freely accessible to everyone and passes approximately 20 light artworks through the historic city centre. You don’t need a ticket and you can walk at your own pace. The route passes well-known spots such as the Keizersgracht, the Herengracht, and the Amstel area, making it a great way to explore the city.
A canal cruise gives you an entirely different perspective on the artworks. From the water, you see the light installations up close and in their surroundings, while staying warm and dry. Read more about the difference between cruising and walking further on in this article.
If you want to make the evening complete, a dinner or drinks nearby is a logical addition. The Jordaan, the Nine Streets, and the Leidseplein are close to the festival route and offer a wide range of restaurants and traditional Dutch pubs. Think of a traditional Amsterdam pub restaurant before the cruise, or a quiet restaurant afterwards.
How long does an evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival take?
An evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival takes an average of two to four hours, depending on what you combine. Just the walking route takes about one and a half to two hours. Add a canal cruise and a dinner, and you’ll easily fill an entire evening.
The festival takes place annually from late November through early January, and the light artworks can be seen once it gets dark, usually from around five o’clock. This means you can easily plan a complete evening even on a weekday without staying out too late.
A handy time estimate for a combined evening:
- Walking route only: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Canal cruise (private or shared): 1.5 to 2.5 hours
- Dinner before or after the festival: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Full evening (cruise + dinner + walk): 3.5 to 5 hours
Bear in mind that the festival is very popular, especially in December. Booking early is advisable if you have a specific date or cruise in mind.
What is the difference between a canal cruise and the walking route during the festival?
The biggest difference is perspective and comfort. The walking route is free, flexible, and gives you the freedom to decide where you stop. A canal cruise offers a different view of the light artworks, you stay warm and dry on board, and you can eat and drink at the same time.
The walking route along the Amsterdam Light Festival is ideal if you want to explore the city at your own pace without a fixed plan. You can stop at artworks that appeal to you, pop into a café, and choose your own route. The downside is that you’re dependent on the weather and that on busy evenings the narrow canal bridges can get quite crowded.
A canal cruise offers a more relaxed and comfortable experience. From the water, you see the light installations from a unique angle, and many works are specifically designed to be viewed from the water. You’re not affected by the crowds on the street and you can combine the evening with catering on board.
With us, you can choose between a private cruise for your own group or a shared canal cruise. The shared cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, and departs three times a day. For larger groups or anyone who really wants to make the evening complete, a private cruise is the better choice.
How do you combine a dinner with an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?
The easiest way to combine a dinner with an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise is to choose an arrangement that includes food and cruising in a single booking. That way you don’t need to arrange a separate restaurant and you can spend the entire evening on board as the light artworks pass by.
If you prefer to dine separately, there are two logical options: eat first and cruise afterwards, or cruise first and end the evening with a dinner nearby. Restaurants in the Jordaan or around the Spui are easily accessible from most boarding locations and offer a wide range, from simple pub restaurants to atmospheric Italian restaurants.
We offer several catering options on board, so you can fully tailor the dinner to the group and the occasion. An overview of the options:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury snacks on board, suitable for an informal drinks reception or team outing. From €47.50 per person.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, suitable for group dinners and corporate outings. From €84.50 per person.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet on board, festive and accessible. 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): several small courses, free to move around on board, ideal for networking. From €132.50 per person.
The Christmas cruise arrangements are specially put together for the festive season and combine the festival route with a complete catering experience. The entire boat is always exclusively reserved for your group, so there are no other guests on board.
Which option is best suited for a corporate outing or group event?
For a corporate outing or group event during the Amsterdam Light Festival, a private cruise is the best fit. You have the boat exclusively for your own group, you can arrange catering and drinks to your specifications, and you combine activity, drinks, and dinner in one location. That saves a lot of organising.
Whether a fixed arrangement or fully custom option is better depends on the size of the group and specific wishes. For groups that want to book quickly and simply, the fixed arrangements with a clear price per person are the most convenient choice. Think of a Christmas drinks reception with snacks or a group dinner with a buffet. For larger groups or those with specific wishes around catering, entertainment, timing, or boarding location, a custom private cruise is the better option.
We can accommodate groups of up to 60 people on one boat. For larger groups, multiple boats can be combined so that everyone travels together. This makes it easy to organise even for large corporate events.
A few practical considerations when choosing:
- Small or medium-sized group, easy to arrange: choose a Private Cruise Package with a fixed price per person
- Large group or specific wishes: choose a Custom Private Cruise with full customisation
- Couple or small group of up to 6 people: the shared cruise (Shared Ticket) is an accessible and affordable option
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with a complete evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival
Whether you want to organise an informal Christmas drinks reception or a fully catered group dinner on the water, we help you create an evening to remember. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail along the official festival route past approximately 20 light artworks, in heated and covered historic salon boats.
- Private Cruise Packages: fixed arrangements with a clear price per person, including boat hire, skipper, crew, and catering. Easy to book, suitable for groups from 15 people.
- Custom Private Cruise: fully tailored, where you choose the boat, catering, drinks, entertainment, and boarding location yourself. From €250 per hour (minimum 2 hours). Ideal for larger groups or specific wishes.
- Shared Tickets: shared cruise for couples and small groups of up to 6 people, 75 minutes, with an English-speaking guide. From €32 per person, bookable directly online.
- More than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam
- One location for activity, drinks, and dinner
- Winter-proof: covered and heated on board
Would you like to book a private cruise for your group or corporate outing? View the options for groups or go directly to the private boat options. Do you have specific wishes or a large group? Contact us and we’ll be happy to think along with you.