A perfect evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival starts with choosing how you want to experience the festival: walking along the canals, sailing on the water, or a combination of both. The festival runs every year from late November to early February and showcases dozens of light artworks throughout the entire city centre. Whether you go with friends, family or colleagues, there is a fitting way for every group to make it an unforgettable evening. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about the festival, from the most beautiful light installations to organising a corporate outing on the water.
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 that you simply cannot get on foot. Many installations are specially designed to be viewed from the water, with reflections on the canal water that double the experience. You glide gently past the artworks without the crowds on the pavement, with a warm boat around you.
What makes a boat tour truly special is the combination of factors. Amsterdam looks beautiful in winter, and when the light installations are reflected in the dark water of the canals, it is a sight you will not easily forget. Moreover, on a boat you can eat and drink while enjoying the festival, something that is considerably more difficult when walking along the route.
With us, all boats run electrically, so you experience the festival in silence, apart from the gentle sound of the water. The historic salon boats are covered and heated, so even on a cold winter evening you sit comfortably. That makes a boat tour not only visually impressive, but also simply very enjoyable.
Which light installations can be seen from the water?
During the Amsterdam Light Festival, approximately twenty light artworks can be seen each year along the official water route through the Amsterdam canals. The exact installations change annually, but the route always passes iconic locations such as the Keizersgracht, the Herengracht and the Amstel. Many works are made specifically for the water route and are best appreciated when approached by boat.
Think of large light structures hanging above the water, projections on historic facades and installations that respond to movement or sound. Some artworks are subtle and poetic, others are large and spectacular. The combination of historic Amsterdam architecture and contemporary light art is what makes the route so powerful.
Please bear in mind that the exact route may vary per trip, depending on traffic on the water, the weather and the boarding location. An experienced skipper knows exactly which route provides the best experience at that moment and adjusts the course accordingly.
How do you combine food and drinks with the Amsterdam Light Festival?
There are several good ways to combine food and drinks with a visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival. You can choose to dine before or after the festival at one of the many restaurants near the route, or you opt for a package where food and the festival are combined in one evening.
Dining near the route
The Jordaan and the Nine Streets are located directly along the festival route and offer a wide range of restaurants, from traditional brown cafés with sharing boards to bistros with a full dinner. A popular approach is to dine nearby first, then walk or sail the route, and afterwards find somewhere to round off the evening. This gives the evening a clear structure and prevents you from getting hungry halfway through the festival.
Food and drinks on board
If you want to arrange everything in one place, a package where you eat and drink on board is a logical choice. At Rederij De Nederlanden you can choose from several catering options, from luxury snacks and a hot and cold buffet to a walking dinner or a three-course dinner with a chef on board. The boat is fully exclusive to your group, so you can plan the evening exactly as you wish.
The private cruises with catering vary in price and format. A Drinks & Bites Cruise lasts one and a half hours and starts from €47.50 per person. A Dinner Cruise with a three-course dinner and chef on board lasts two hours and starts from €124.50 per person for larger groups. This allows you to tailor the evening to the budget and atmosphere you are looking for.
What is the difference between a private cruise and a shared boat tour?
The biggest difference is that with a private cruise the entire boat is reserved exclusively for your group, whereas with a shared boat tour you share the boat with other visitors you do not know. That sounds simple, but it has major implications for the atmosphere, the flexibility and what is possible on board.
With a private cruise you decide the pace, the atmosphere and what happens on board. You can have catering arranged, have music played, or simply relax with your own group. There are no strangers on board to influence the experience. That makes a private cruise particularly well suited for corporate outings, Christmas drinks, birthdays and other group activities where you want to celebrate something together.
A shared boat tour is a good choice for couples, individual visitors or small groups of up to six people who want to see the festival without having to hire an entire boat. With us, Shared Tickets are available for groups of up to six people. The cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official Amsterdam Light Festival route, departs three times a day and can be booked directly online from €32 per person. An English-speaking guide is included.
When is the best time to visit the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs every year from late November to early February, and the best time to go depends on what you are looking for. Weekday evenings are quieter than weekends, and the first weeks of the festival are generally less busy than the period around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
If you want to experience the festival at your own pace without too much crowds, choose a weekday evening in December, outside the public holidays. If you want to soak up the festive holiday atmosphere, then the week before Christmas or the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is a lovely choice. The city has an extra festive feel at that time, which pairs beautifully with the light installations.
Booking early is always wise, especially if you want a private boat or a package for a larger group. The most popular evenings fill up quickly, and during the busy period around Christmas and New Year the choice of available boats and time slots is limited. Check the available dates and departure times to get a clear picture of the options.
How do you organise a corporate outing or Christmas drinks during the Amsterdam Light Festival?
A corporate outing or Christmas drinks during the Amsterdam Light Festival is easiest to organise by combining the activity, food and drinks in one package. This prevents you from having to piece together separate reservations and ensures that everyone is in the same place at the same time. A private cruise on the water is a popular choice for this, as it combines activity and catering in one evening.
Start by determining the group size and the type of evening you want. An informal drinks reception with snacks calls for a different approach than a Christmas dinner with multiple courses. Then choose a venue or format that suits that atmosphere. That could be a private cruise, but a dinner at a restaurant followed by a walk along the route is also a good option for smaller groups.
For larger groups, a private cruise is often the most practical choice, as everyone is together and there is no hassle with multiple reservations or splitting the group. With a group package on the water, the boat is entirely yours and you arrange the activity, food and drinks all at once.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival
Whether you want to organise Christmas drinks for the team, are looking for a festive group dinner or simply want to see the festival with a small party, we have a suitable option. Here is what we concretely offer:
- Custom Private Cruise: fully tailored, from €250 per hour, with your own choice of boat, catering, drinks and boarding location. Particularly suitable for larger groups and companies with specific requirements.
- Private Cruise Packages: pre-composed packages with a clear price per person, from €47.50 p.p. Easy to book, including boat hire, skipper, crew and catering. The boat is always exclusive to your group.
- Shared Tickets: for couples, individual visitors and small groups of up to six people. From €32 p.p., 75 minutes, with an English-speaking guide, available three times a day.
- We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and sail along the official route past approximately twenty light artworks.
- All boats are covered, heated and electric, so you sit comfortably even on a cold winter evening.
- With more than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, you always depart close to the spot that is most convenient for your group.
Would you like to know which option best suits your group? Contact us and we will be happy to help you with a package that perfectly matches what you are looking for. Or take a look directly at our Christmas cruise packages for a complete overview of the options.