Planning an unforgettable Amsterdam Light Festival evening for 20 people is best done with a private boat: the entire group stays together, you cruise past the light artworks while eating and drinking, and you don’t have to arrange anything yourself on the night. That immediately makes it a complete group evening rather than a standalone activity. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the route, the packages, the costs, and the right time to book.
What makes a private boat the best choice for a group of 20?
For a group of 20 people, a private boat is the most practical and social choice during the Amsterdam Light Festival. You sail together on one boat, exclusively for your group, without strangers on board. That means you can talk, laugh, and enjoy yourselves freely while the light artworks pass by.
Practically speaking, a private boat also solves a logistical problem: moving 20 people together through Amsterdam is complicated. With a boat, you step on once and enjoy the rest of the evening. No queues, no group splitting up at a busy artwork, no hassle with reservations at multiple restaurants or cafés.
Another factor: the Amsterdam Light Festival takes place in winter. The covered and heated boats of Rederij De Nederlanden ensure that even if it’s freezing outside, you’ll be warm on board. Toilet on board, catering on board, skipper and crew present. All you have to do is enjoy.
Want to know what’s possible for a group cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival? There you’ll find a good overview of the options for groups.
Which route lets you see the most light artworks during the festival?
The official Amsterdam Light Festival route runs through the Amsterdam canals and along the IJ. Along this route, around 20 light artworks can be seen each year, spread across the water. The exact locations vary per edition, but the core of the route runs along the Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, and the Amstel area.
From the water, you see the installations at their best: many works are specially designed to be viewed from a boat and are reflected in the water. That gives a completely different experience than walking past the artworks on foot.
Do note that the exact route may vary due to congestion on the water, the weather, or the boarding location. An experienced skipper knows how to visit the most works and when the canals are quieter. At Rederij De Nederlanden, we are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and our skippers follow the official festival route, so you take in as many light artworks as possible.
Want to explore the festival on foot as well? That works perfectly as a complement. The artworks around the Amstel and the Herengracht are easily accessible from the city centre. Combine a two-hour cruise with a walk past a few works beforehand for a complete evening.
How do you combine food and drinks with a Light Festival cruise?
Combining food and drinks with a Light Festival cruise is possible in several ways. The easiest option is a package that includes catering on board. That way you have the activity, drinks, and dinner all in one location, without having to arrange a restaurant for 20 people afterwards.
At Rederij De Nederlanden you can choose from several catering formats, depending on what you want the evening to look like:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury bites on board, from €47.50 per person. Ideal for an informal drinks reception or team outing.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, from €84.50 per person. Great for a group dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet on board, from €89.50 per person. Festive and suitable for a special evening.
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with a chef on board, from €129.50 per person. Suitable for a Christmas dinner or corporate event.
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): multiple small courses, chef on board, free to move around and network, from €132.50 per person.
The boat is always exclusively for your group. There are no other guests on board. That also makes it a pleasant setting for corporate groups or Christmas drinks: you set the tone yourselves.
Would you prefer to eat somewhere first and then cruise? That’s possible too. Amsterdam has great restaurants around the festival area in the Jordaan, on the Utrechtsestraat, and along the Amstel. After dinner, you can board for a cruise past the light artworks. Check the options for a boat trip during the Amsterdam Light Festival to see which departure times are available.
When should you book a boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival?
For a group of 20 people, it’s wise to book as early as possible, preferably at least six to eight weeks in advance. The Amsterdam Light Festival attracts many visitors each year and the most popular evenings, such as Fridays, Saturdays, and the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, fill up quickly.
The festival typically runs from late November to mid-January. The busiest period falls in December, when many companies plan their Christmas drinks or end-of-year party. If you want a specific date, don’t wait too long.
Want to know exactly when the festival starts and which dates are available? Then check the current festival dates and availability for the current season.
For a custom private cruise with specific wishes regarding catering, drinks, or boarding location, booking early is even more important. That gives more time to arrange everything properly.
What does a private cruise for 20 people cost during the festival?
The cost of a private cruise for 20 people during the Amsterdam Light Festival depends on the package and the duration of the cruise. At Rederij De Nederlanden, the fixed packages for groups of 15 to 25 people start from €47.50 per person for a Drinks & Bites Cruise of one and a half hours.
For a group of 20 people, that gives a rough overview:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise: from €47.50 p.p., total approximately €950
- Art & Lights Buffet: from €84.50 p.p., total approximately €1,690
- Italian Buffet Cruise: from €89.50 p.p., total approximately €1,790
- Dinner Cruise: from €129.50 p.p., total approximately €2,590
- Walking Dinner Cruise: from €132.50 p.p., total approximately €2,650
Please note that a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are charged separately. Drinks are handled either on a post-calculation basis or via an open bar, depending on the package.
Want more flexibility in catering, timing, or boarding location? Then a Custom Private Cruise is a better choice. The price for that depends on your specific wishes and is put together on a bespoke basis.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps create an unforgettable evening for 20 people
We make sure your evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival is fully taken care of, from the first bite to the last artwork. Here’s what we offer for a group of 20:
- Exclusive private boat for your group, no other guests on board
- Official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, with the official festival route
- Choice of five packages, from an informal drinks reception to a three-course dinner with a chef
- Covered and heated boats with toilet on board, winterproof for the evening cruise
- More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam, so boarding close to your location is possible
- Professional skipper and crew on board, you don’t have to arrange anything on the night itself
- Custom Private Cruise available for groups with specific wishes regarding catering, drinks, or timing
Ready to plan the evening? Check the private boat options for the Amsterdam Light Festival or contact us for a bespoke quote for your group of 20.
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