How to Organize an Amsterdam Light Festival Event for 50 People

  • Thomas van Loon
  • 🕐 6 min leestijd

Organising an Amsterdam Light Festival event for 50 people is best done with a private cruise. You book a boat exclusively for your group, choose a suitable package with drinks and snacks or dinner on board, and sail past the approximately 20 light artworks on the official festival route. For a group of this size, a Custom Private Cruise or a Private Cruise Package is the most practical choice. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about cruising, packages, and planning during the Amsterdam Light Festival.

How many people can fit on a canal cruise boat in Amsterdam?

The capacity of a canal cruise boat in Amsterdam varies greatly depending on the type of vessel. Small sloops and barges accommodate 8 to 12 people, while medium-sized salon boats are suitable for 20 to 40 people. Larger vessels can take groups of 60 to as many as 175 people on board.

For a group of 50 people, a larger salon boat or a combination of boats is the recommended choice. At Rederij De Nederlanden, groups of up to 60 people are accommodated on a single boat. For larger groups, multiple boats can be combined so that everyone cruises together and the evening is experienced as one cohesive event.

Important to know: with a private cruise for groups, the entire boat is reserved exclusively for your party. No other guests will join, which makes a significant difference to the atmosphere and the freedom on board. The boat is always matched to the group size, so you don’t pay for space you don’t use.

What is the difference between a private cruise and a shared canal tour?

With a private cruise, the boat is fully reserved exclusively for your group. With a shared canal tour, you share the boat with other visitors you don’t know. The biggest difference lies in privacy, flexibility, and the ability to tailor the evening entirely to your own wishes.

A shared canal tour is suitable for couples, individuals, or small groups of up to 6 people. The cruise typically lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, and departs at fixed times. We also offer Shared Tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival, from €32 per person, including an English-speaking guide and three fixed departures per day. That is a great option if you are going as a couple or with a small group.

For a group of 50 people, however, a private cruise is the only logical choice. Shared tickets are limited to 6 people per booking and offer no room for custom catering, a dedicated programme, or exclusivity. With a private cruise, you decide when you depart, what is eaten and drunk, and how the evening looks.

What packages are available for large groups during the Amsterdam Light Festival?

For large groups during the Amsterdam Light Festival, there are several package options, both on the water and on land. The choice depends on what you want to combine: simply experiencing the festival, food and drinks, or a complete evening with an activity and dinner.

Cruising past the light artworks

A private cruise past the approximately 20 light artworks on the official festival route is the most popular way for large groups to experience the festival. You see the installations from the water, at your own pace and without the crowds of other visitors. We offer several packages for this:

  • Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury snacks on board, from €45.50 per person for 25+ people. Ideal for an informal drinks reception or team outing.
  • Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, from €78.50 per person for 25+ people. Suitable for corporate outings and group dinners.
  • Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet, from €85.50 per person for 25+ people. Festive and suitable for events.
  • Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with an on-board chef, from €124.50 per person for 25+ people. The right choice for Christmas dinners and business dinners.
  • Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): multiple small courses, free to move around on board, from €124.50 per person for 25+ people. Excellent for networking and client events.

Combination with food or drinks on land

Would you also like to experience the festival on foot? The light artworks along the Keizersgracht, Herengracht, and the Amstel area are easily reachable on foot. Combine a walk along the installations with dinner at one of the restaurants in the Jordaan or on the Leidseplein, two neighbourhoods close to the festival route that offer plenty of options for large groups. Afterwards you can enjoy drinks or round off the evening with a private cruise.

How far in advance should you book a Light Festival boat for 50 people?

For a group of 50 people during the Amsterdam Light Festival, it is advisable to book at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance. The festival attracts many visitors each year and demand for private boats is high during the winter months, especially around the holidays and the Christmas period.

The larger the group and the more specific the requirements, the earlier you need to book. If you want a particular date, a specific boat, or an extensive catering package, booking early is not a luxury but simply smart. In December, popular evenings can be fully booked weeks in advance.

Would you like to plan a specific festival evening or do you have a fixed date for a Christmas drinks reception or end-of-year party? Get in touch as soon as possible. We are happy to advise you on availability and help you choose the right date.

What does a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival cost for a group?

The cost of a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival for a group of 50 people depends on the chosen package and the duration of the cruise. With fixed packages (Private Cruise Packages), you pay a price per person, including boat hire, skipper, crew, and catering. With a fully customised package (Custom Private Cruise), the price is composed based on your requirements.

As an indication for a group of 50 people with the fixed packages:

  • Drinks & Bites Cruise: from €45.50 per person (total from approximately €2,275)
  • Art & Lights Buffet: from €78.50 per person (total from approximately €3,925)
  • Italian Buffet Cruise: from €85.50 per person (total from approximately €4,275)
  • Dinner Cruise: from €124.50 per person (total from approximately €6,225)
  • Walking Dinner Cruise: from €124.50 per person (total from approximately €6,225)

Please note that a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are charged separately. Drinks are available either on a consumption basis or as an open bar, depending on the chosen package. For a Custom Private Cruise, a starting rate from €250 per hour applies with a minimum of 2 hours, after which catering and other requirements are added.

What route does a canal cruise boat follow during the Amsterdam Light Festival?

During the Amsterdam Light Festival, a canal cruise boat follows the official festival route along the illuminated canals of Amsterdam. The route passes approximately 20 light artworks, spread across the Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and the Amstel area, among others. The exact route may vary due to traffic on the water, weather conditions, and the chosen boarding location.

As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail the full festival route. Our experienced skippers know the route inside out and ensure you get the best possible view of all the installations. Because the boats are covered and heated, you can enjoy the light spectacle in comfort even in cold weather.

Would you like to know more about the boat tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival? On that page you will find all the information about the route, the duration, and what you can expect.

How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with a group event for 50 people

Organising a group event for 50 people during the Amsterdam Light Festival requires a provider that is experienced with large groups and arranges everything in one place. This is what we offer:

  • Private boat exclusively for your group, no other guests on board
  • Official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail the full festival route
  • Choice of fixed packages (Private Cruise Packages) with a clear price per person, or a fully customised package (Custom Private Cruise)
  • Catering on board: from luxury snacks and buffet to walking dinner and a served three-course dinner
  • Covered and heated historic salon boats, comfortable even in winter weather
  • 150+ possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, we choose one that suits your location
  • One location for activity, drinks, and dinner: no hassle with multiple reservations

Would you like to book a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival for your group, or are you curious which package suits you best? Get in touch with us and we will be happy to think along with you about the possibilities.

Related Articles