A canal cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival is one of the most original ways to make a corporate event truly special. You combine a unique setting on the water with approximately 20 light artworks along the canals, and you have the option to arrange food, drinks, and entertainment entirely on board. This means the activity, the drinks reception, and the dinner all take place in one location. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about organizing a corporate cruise during the festival.
What makes a canal cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival so suitable for a corporate event?
A canal cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival combines three things you most want to bring together at a corporate event: a special activity, catering, and an exclusive setting. The boat travels along the official festival route with approximately 20 light artworks, while guests on board enjoy snacks and drinks. This immediately makes it a complete evening, without having to move from location to location.
What makes a cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival so attractive for companies is the combination of experience and convenience. You don’t need to book a separate restaurant, arrange a venue, or come up with a program. The route through the illuminated canals is the program. That appeals to groups alike, whether for an informal Christmas drinks reception or a formal client dinner.
Moreover, the boats are covered and heated, which is a major advantage during the winter months. You’re not standing outside in the cold, but sitting comfortably inside with a view of the artworks. This makes the festival an attractive option even for groups that wouldn’t normally choose an outdoor activity.
For companies looking for an original corporate outing in winter, this is one of the most popular options in Amsterdam. It’s concrete, visually impressive, and can be fully tailored to the group.
How many people can join a private cruise during the Light Festival?
On a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, groups can range from approximately 15 people to very large parties. The group size determines which boat is the best fit. Smaller and medium-sized groups travel on a salon boat reserved exclusively for them. For larger groups, multiple boats are combined or one of the larger vessels is deployed.
There is no hard upper limit for private cruises. With a Custom Private Cruise, you can fully tailor the boat and layout to the group size and preferences. We can accommodate groups of up to 60 people on one boat, and for larger groups we combine multiple boats so everyone can participate together.
For smaller groups of up to 6 people, Shared Tickets are also available. This is a shared 75-minute cruise along the official festival route, with an English-speaking guide, three times a day, bookable directly online from €32 per person. This is a great option for couples, individual visitors, or small groups who simply want to join a cruise without reserving a boat.
For corporate groups, a private cruise is almost always the better choice. The boat is then exclusively for your party, providing more space, more privacy, and the ability to arrange catering and the program entirely to your wishes.
What is the difference between a fixed package and a custom cruise?
The main difference is the degree of flexibility and the booking method. With a fixed package, you choose from a pre-composed package with a clear price per person. With a custom cruise, you put together the boat, catering, drinks, timing, and boarding location yourself.
Fixed packages: simple and transparent
The Private Cruise Packages are fixed arrangements with a price per person, including boat rental, skipper, crew, and catering. They are available from 15 people and start from €47.50 per person for a Drinks & Bites Cruise of one and a half hours. There are also longer options with a buffet or a three-course dinner. These are the most booked packages for corporate outings, Christmas drinks receptions, and group dinners, because everything is already arranged and you know exactly what to expect.
Custom cruise: fully tailored to your wishes
A Custom Private Cruise gives you complete freedom. You choose the boat yourself, put together the catering, determine the drinks list, choose a boarding location, and decide the duration of the cruise. This is especially interesting for larger groups, companies with specific wishes around entertainment or catering, or events where the standard packages don’t quite fit. The price starts from €250 per hour with a minimum of two hours.
What catering options are available on a corporate cruise?
On a corporate cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, multiple catering formats are available, from luxury canapés to a plated three-course dinner with a chef on board. Which option fits best depends on the atmosphere you want to create and the duration of the cruise.
With the fixed packages, you can choose from the following options:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury snacks, suitable for an informal drinks reception or team outing. From €47.50 per person for 15–25 people, from €45.50 for 25+ people.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, suitable for corporate outings and group dinners. From €84.50 per person for 15–25 people, from €78.50 for 25+.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet, suitable for festive gatherings. From €89.50 per person for 15–25 people, from €85.50 for 25+.
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with a chef on board, suitable for Christmas dinners and business dinners. From €129.50 per person for 15–25 people, from €124.50 for 25+.
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): multiple small courses, chef on board, free to mingle and network. Suitable for networking events and client events. From €132.50 per person for 15–25 people, from €124.50 for 25+.
With a Custom Private Cruise, you put together the catering entirely yourself. Think luxury canapés, a walking dinner, fine dining, an open bar, selected wines, or winter drinks. The boat is always exclusively for your party, so there are no other guests on board and the atmosphere perfectly matches the event.
When should you book a boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival?
Booking early is strongly recommended. The Amsterdam Light Festival is one of the busiest periods for canal cruises in Amsterdam, and private boats have limited availability. Especially for groups wanting a specific date, boat, or catering format, it is wise to reserve at least two to three months in advance.
The festival takes place annually from late November to early February. For companies planning a Christmas drinks reception or end-of-year party, the busiest booking period falls in October and November. Those who wait until then risk the desired date no longer being available.
Practical tips for booking:
- First determine the group size and the type of evening you have in mind.
- Then choose between a fixed package or a custom cruise.
- Request a quote as soon as possible or get in touch to check availability.
- Keep in mind a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax, which are calculated separately.
How do you plan a corporate cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival step by step?
You plan a corporate cruise in a few steps. Start with the group size and budget, then choose the type of package, confirm the date, and leave the rest to us. Below is the logical order.
- Determine the group size. This determines which boat and which package are eligible.
- Choose the type of evening. Do you want an informal drinks reception, a dinner, or a combination? This determines the catering format.
- Choose between a fixed package or custom. For a clear price per person and a straightforward booking, choose a Private Cruise Package. For specific wishes around catering, timing, boat, or boarding location, go for a Custom Private Cruise.
- Check availability. Get in touch or request a quote. Provide the desired date, number of people, and preferred catering format.
- Confirm the booking. Once the quote is agreed upon, everything is locked in and you don’t need to arrange anything further.
For companies that want to organize a group cruise during the Light Festival, it’s good to know that we take care of all the logistics. You tell us what you want, and we arrange the boat, the skipper, the catering, and the route.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your corporate event during the Amsterdam Light Festival
We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and offer private cruises for companies, groups, and events. Here is what we concretely arrange for you:
- Private boat for your party: the boat is always exclusively for your group, from 15 people to large parties.
- Fixed packages with a clear price per person: from a Drinks & Bites Cruise from €47.50 pp to a Walking Dinner Cruise with a chef on board.
- Fully custom for specific wishes: your own boat, your own catering, your own boarding location, your own time slot.
- Covered and heated boats: comfortable on the water even in winter.
- More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam: we pick you up wherever is convenient.
- Everything in one: activity, drinks reception, and dinner in one location, without any hassle.
Want to know what we can arrange for your group? View the private cruise options for the Light Festival or contact us for a no-obligation custom quote.