An all-inclusive evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival is organized by combining activities, food, and drinks in one location, so you don’t have to move between different venues. The most complete way to do this is a private boat cruise where you view the light artworks from the water while snacks and drinks are taken care of on board. Below you’ll find everything you need to know: from the best ways to experience the festival to practical details about booking, group sizes, and packages.
What makes a boat tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival so special?
A boat tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival gives you a unique perspective on the light artworks, as many installations are specially designed for or along the water. From a boat, you see the works up close, at eye level and without the crowds of pedestrians on the quayside. This makes the experience fundamentally different from walking along the route.
The festival showcases approximately 20 light artworks along the Amsterdam canals each year, created by artists from the Netherlands and abroad. The works can be seen from late November to mid-January, precisely during the darkest period of the year. On the water, you notice that city noise fades away and the reflections of the artworks in the water enhance the atmosphere.
What also makes a boat tour practically attractive for groups: you don’t have to walk in the cold, you’re together in one place, and you can combine food and drinks with the cruise. This makes it a logical choice for corporate outings, Christmas drinks, or other group evenings where you want a complete experience without any hassle.
If you want to experience the festival from the water, you can choose from various cruise options with us. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail the official route past the light artworks, in historic salon boats that are fully covered and heated. This way you can enjoy the festival without the winter cold being a factor.
What all-inclusive packages are available for groups?
For groups, there are several all-inclusive packages available during the Amsterdam Light Festival, both on the water and on land. The choice depends on what you want to combine: just seeing the light artworks, adding food and drinks, or a complete evening in one location.
Food and drinks at a nearby restaurant
The route of the Amsterdam Light Festival runs largely through the Jordaan, the canal belt, and around Centraal Station. These are neighborhoods with a wide range of restaurants, from traditional Dutch pubs with snacks to more extensive dining options. Many groups opt for a dinner beforehand at a restaurant in the Jordaan or on the Haarlemmerstraat, followed by a walk or boat tour past the works.
All-inclusive cruise packages
If you want to combine everything in one location, we offer fixed packages on board where food, drinks, and the cruise are included. These are the available Light Festival packages:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours) – luxury snacks on board, from €47.50 pp (15-25 persons) or €45.50 pp (25+)
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours) – hot and cold buffet, from €84.50 pp (15-25 persons) or €78.50 pp (25+)
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours) – Italian buffet, from €89.50 pp (15-25 persons) or €85.50 pp (25+)
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours) – three-course dinner with chef on board, from €129.50 pp (15-25 persons) or €124.50 pp (25+)
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours) – multiple small courses, chef on board, free to move around and network, from €132.50 pp (15-25 persons) or €124.50 pp (25+)
All packages are exclusive to your group. The boat is fully privately reserved; there are no other guests on board.
How do you organize a corporate outing or Christmas drinks on a boat?
A corporate outing or Christmas drinks on a boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival is organized by choosing between a fixed package with a clear price per person or a fully customized cruise. The difference lies in the degree of flexibility and the complexity of your requirements.
For most corporate groups, a fixed package is the simplest choice. You select a package, provide the number of persons, and immediately know the cost per head, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. This saves the organizer a lot of administrative work.
If you have more specific requirements, for example a particular boarding location, a specific menu, an open bar, or entertainment on board, then a custom cruise is the better option. You then put together a program with our team that perfectly fits the evening you have in mind.
Practically speaking, for a Christmas drinks event or year-end party on the water: book early. December is the busiest period of the festival and of the year for group bookings. Popular evenings fill up quickly.
How many people can join a private Light Festival cruise?
A private Light Festival cruise accommodates groups from 15 persons. The upper limit of the group size depends on the chosen boat. We have boats available for a range of group sizes, with the boat always matched to the number of guests.
For larger groups, multiple boats can be combined, so that larger parties can also experience the festival together. There is therefore no hard upper limit that makes a group evening impossible.
Small groups of up to 6 persons can also join via a shared cruise with Shared Tickets. This cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, departs three times a day, and can be booked directly online from €32 per person. This is a great option for couples or small groups of friends who want to see the festival from the water without having to book a private boat.
For groups who want to cruise together, a private cruise is always the better choice: the boat is entirely yours and the program fits your evening. View the options for groups at the Amsterdam Light Festival for an overview of what suits your group size.
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival and how early should you book?
The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place every year from late November to mid-January. In 2026, the edition is expected to run from late November 2025 through mid-January 2026, similar to previous years. The exact dates are usually announced in spring via the official festival website.
For groups and companies: book as early as possible. The combination of the Amsterdam Light Festival and the holiday season makes December the busiest month for bookings on the water. Popular evenings in December are often fully booked months in advance.
A good rule of thumb is to book by September or October at the latest if you want to be sure of an evening in December. If you want a specific date, for example the evening of a Christmas drinks event or a year-end party, booking earlier is always wise.
What is the difference between a private cruise package and a custom private cruise?
The difference between a private cruise package and a custom private cruise lies in the degree of customization. A private cruise package is a pre-assembled arrangement with a fixed price per person, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. A custom private cruise is fully tailored, where you choose the boat, catering, drinks, timing, and boarding location yourself.
Private cruise packages are most suitable for groups who want to arrange a complete evening without much hassle. You choose a package, provide the number of persons, and the rest is taken care of. The price per person is clear in advance. This works well for corporate outings, Christmas drinks, and groups who want a fixed arrangement.
Custom private cruises are the better choice if you have specific requirements: a particular boarding location, your own catering composition, entertainment on board, an open bar, or a different duration. The custom option starts from €250 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours and offers complete freedom in planning the evening. This suits larger groups or companies who want to organize a tailor-made event.
In short: choose a package if you want simplicity and a clear price per person. Choose a custom cruise if you have specific requirements or are looking for a fully tailored evening. Want to know more about the private boat options during the Amsterdam Light Festival? On that page you’ll find an overview of both options.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with an all-inclusive evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival
As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we organize private cruises for groups who want to experience the festival on the water, combined with food and drinks on board. Here is what we concretely offer:
- Private cruise packages from €47.50 per person, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering, for groups from 15 persons
- Custom private cruises fully tailored, with your own choice of boat, catering, drinks, timing, and boarding location
- Shared Tickets for small groups of up to 6 persons, bookable directly online from €32 per person
- Historic, covered, and heated salon boats, suitable for winter
- More than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam
- Catering on board, from luxury snacks to a three-course dinner with chef
- The boat is always fully exclusive to your group on a private cruise
Want to arrange an evening for your team, Christmas drinks on the water, or a corporate event during the Amsterdam Light Festival? View the options for a corporate outing or contact us for a tailored quote. We are happy to help you make the right choice for your group and evening.