Planning a wedding or party during the Amsterdam Light Festival means booking early, choosing a venue that suits the wintry atmosphere of the festival, and thinking carefully about how you want to experience the light artworks. The 2026 edition runs from late November through January, making the festival ideally suited for Christmas dinners, New Year’s celebrations, and winter weddings. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about planning a special party or wedding around the festival.
Which date and venue work best during the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place annually from late November through January. For a wedding or party, evenings in December work best: it is the height of the festive season, the atmosphere in the city is warm and celebratory, and the light artworks look their most beautiful against the dark winter sky. Keep in mind that December is also the busiest period, so book early.
In terms of venue, you broadly have three types of options: on the water, in a restaurant or event venue along the canals, or a combination of both. The official Light Festival route runs through Amsterdam’s city centre, along the Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, and the Amstel. Venues in this area have the advantage that guests can easily stroll past the artworks before or after dinner.
If you want to use the festival itself as a backdrop, evenings between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM are most suitable. It gets dark early in December, which means you can see the light artworks early in the evening. A dinner starting at 6:00 or 7:00 PM gives guests the opportunity to walk or cruise past the works afterwards.
For the most popular dates in December, such as the weekends before Christmas: check the available dates as early as possible and book immediately. Venues, boats, and restaurants fill up quickly during this period.
What makes a boat the ideal setting for a party or wedding during the festival?
A boat combines the light artworks of the Amsterdam Light Festival with an exclusive, private setting for your group. Instead of standing on the sidelines, you look directly at the illuminated artworks from the water, while simultaneously eating, drinking, and celebrating with your own group. That makes a cruise a complete evening in itself.
What sets a boat apart from a restaurant or event hall is the moving experience: the scenery changes continuously as you cruise past approximately 20 light artworks. At the same time, you have all the comforts on board: the historic salon boats are covered and heated, so the winter weather is not a factor. There is a toilet on board and the boat is reserved exclusively for your group.
For a wedding, a boat is also appealing for a practical reason: we are one of the few boat operators in Amsterdam with boats large enough for a full wedding. Most operators only offer dinghies or small salon boats, but our fleet accommodates larger groups where the entire party can travel together on one boat.
Another advantage is that the activity, drinks, and dinner all come together in one location. Guests do not need to travel between a ceremony, a dinner venue, and a party venue. Everything happens on board, making the evening straightforward and relaxed for everyone.
How many guests can join a boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival?
At Rederij De Nederlanden, groups from 15 persons can reserve a private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival. The maximum capacity varies per boat: the smallest boat accommodates 12 persons, while the largest can take up to 175 persons. For large weddings or parties, multiple boats can be combined.
The boat is always matched to the size of your group. If you have a group of 30 persons, you will get a boat suited for that. If you have 80 or 100 guests, we will look at the right boat or combination of boats. With a Custom Private Cruise, you can also choose the specific boat yourself, which is convenient if you know how large your group will be.
For smaller groups, such as couples or families of up to 6 persons, Shared Tickets are also available. This is a shared cruise of 75 minutes along the official Light Festival route, with an English-speaking guide, and can be booked directly online from €32 per person. This is a different option from the private cruises and is less suitable for a wedding or large party, but perfectly fine for a smaller group that wants to experience the festival together.
If you want to make sure all guests can travel together on one boat, please get in touch for advice on the right boat size for your party. Also check the options for groups for an overview of what is possible.
What catering and package options are available for a party on the water?
For a party or wedding during the Amsterdam Light Festival, you can choose from several catering formats on board, from luxury bites and a buffet to a plated three-course dinner with a chef on board. The entire boat is exclusively for your group, so the catering is fully tailored to the evening you have in mind.
The available Light Festival packages are:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours) – luxury bites, from €47.50 pp. Suitable for drinks receptions or informal parties.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours) – hot and cold buffet, from €84.50 pp. Suitable for group dinners and corporate parties.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours) – Italian buffet, from €89.50 pp. Suitable for festive gatherings.
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours) – three-course dinner with chef on board, from €129.50 pp. Suitable for Christmas dinners, weddings, and business dinners.
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours) – multiple small courses, chef on board, guests move freely through the boat, from €132.50 pp. Suitable for networking events and festive gatherings.
For larger groups (25+), lower prices per person apply. Drinks are available on consumption or as an open bar, depending on your preference. For a wedding or special party with specific wishes regarding the menu, drinks, or presentation, a Custom Private Cruise is the most flexible option: you compose the catering entirely yourself.
How do you book a private cruise for a wedding or large party?
You book a private cruise for a wedding or large party during the Amsterdam Light Festival by contacting Rederij De Nederlanden and providing your wishes, group size, and preferred date. Based on that, you will receive a suitable proposal, either as a fixed package with a clear price per person, or as a fully bespoke offer.
There are two ways to book a private cruise:
- Private Cruise Package – a pre-composed package with a fixed price per person. This is the simplest way to arrange a complete evening, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. Suitable for groups that want quick clarity on costs.
- Custom Private Cruise – a fully tailored cruise where you choose the boat, catering, drinks, timing, and boarding location yourself. From €250 per hour, minimum 2 hours. Suitable for larger groups, weddings, and parties with specific requirements.
Please note that in addition to the package price, a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are charged separately. Book as early as possible: December is the busiest period of the year and popular dates fill up quickly.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your wedding or party during the festival
We arrange private cruises on the Amsterdam Light Festival for groups of all sizes, from an intimate party to a large wedding. This is what we concretely offer:
- Private boat exclusively for your group, never shared with other guests (unless you choose Shared Tickets)
- Historic, covered, and heated salon boats, winterproof for an evening on the water
- Catering on board: from bites and buffet to walking dinner and three-course dinner with chef
- Fixed packages with a clear price per person, or fully bespoke
- Boats suitable for small groups and large weddings, with capacity up to 175 persons
- More than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam
- Official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival
Would you like to organise an unforgettable evening on the water for your wedding, Christmas party, or group celebration? Check the private cruise options for the Amsterdam Light Festival or contact us for a personalised bespoke proposal.