The five most popular packages for companies during the Amsterdam Light Festival are the Drinks & Bites Cruise, the Art & Lights Buffet, the Italian Buffet Cruise, the Dinner Cruise and the Walking Dinner Cruise. All of these packages are private: the boat is fully reserved exclusively for your group, including catering and crew. Below you will find, for each package, what to expect, what it costs and which type of corporate group it suits best.
Which packages are most frequently booked for groups during the festival?
The five fixed Light Festival packages from Rederij De Nederlanden are by far the most popular among companies and groups. They combine a private cruise past the light artworks with food and drinks on board, so the activity and dinner take place in one location. That saves planning, and the result is a complete evening without any hassle.
These are the five packages at a glance:
- Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours) from €47.50 per person for 15 to 25 people, from €45.50 for 25 or more. Luxury bites on board. Ideal for an informal drinks reception or team outing.
- Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours) from €84.50 per person for 15 to 25 people, from €78.50 for 25 or more. Hot and cold buffet. Popular for corporate outings and group dinners.
- Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours) from €89.50 per person for 15 to 25 people, from €85.50 for 25 or more. Italian buffet on board. Festive and suitable for corporate events.
- Dinner Cruise (2 hours) from €129.50 per person for 15 to 25 people, from €124.50 for 25 or more. Three-course dinner with a chef on board. The favourite choice for Christmas dinners and client events.
- Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours) from €132.50 per person for 15 to 25 people, from €124.50 for 25 or more. Multiple small courses, a chef on board and the freedom to move around and network. Perfect for informal business events.
Please note: on top of the package price, a festival surcharge and the VMR entertainment tax apply. Drinks are either charged on consumption or via an open bar, depending on the chosen package.
What is the difference between a private cruise package and a custom cruise?
A private cruise package is a pre-composed arrangement with a fixed price per person. You choose a package, provide the number of guests and immediately know where you stand. A custom private cruise is fully tailored: you choose the boat, the catering, the drinks, the boarding location and any entertainment yourself. This gives more freedom, but also requires more coordination in advance.
In practice, it works like this: groups that want to quickly arrange a complete evening with a clear price per person opt for a private cruise package. Think of a Christmas drinks reception for 30 colleagues where you simply want to know what it costs. The packages are fixed, the boat is exclusively for your group and everything is included.
Larger groups, or groups with specific wishes regarding timing, catering or location, more often choose a custom private cruise. Do you want your own chef on board with a specific menu, a particular boarding location near your office, or a specific boat for 80 people? Then a tailor-made solution is the logical choice. The private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival can be fully tailored to what your group needs.
How many people can take part in a corporate cruise during the festival?
The private cruise packages start from 15 people. There is no strict upper limit, but in practice the packages are most suitable for smaller and medium-sized groups. For larger groups or groups with specific wishes, a custom private cruise is a better choice, with the boat matched to the group size.
If you want to experience the Amsterdam Light Festival together with a large group, that can easily be arranged. At Rederij De Nederlanden we can accommodate groups of up to 60 people on one boat. For larger groups, multiple boats can be combined so that everyone travels together during the cruise past the light artworks.
Are you with a small group of up to 6 people? Then a shared cruise is also available via shared tickets, from €32 per person. This cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route and departs three times a day. This is an accessible option for couples or small groups who want to experience the festival on the water without booking a full private boat. For corporate groups, however, the private options are almost always the better choice.
What is included in an all-inclusive Light Festival package?
With a Light Festival package from Rederij De Nederlanden, boat hire, a professional skipper, the crew and catering are included in the price per person. The boat is fully exclusive to your group; there are no other guests on board. Depending on the package, drinks are available on consumption or via an open bar.
In concrete terms, this means that with one booking you arrange a complete evening. No separate restaurant reservation, no hassle with transport between venues. You step on board, cruise past the approximately 20 light artworks on the official festival route and enjoy snacks or a full dinner at the same time. The boats are covered and heated, so the winter cold is absolutely no problem.
What is not included in the base price: the festival surcharge and the VMR entertainment tax. These are charged separately. Bear this in mind when comparing prices.
Would you like to know more about exactly what is included in a group cruise during the festival? On the package pages you will find a complete overview per package.
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival and how early should you book?
The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place annually in winter, typically from late November through to mid-January. In 2026 the festival falls in the same period. The exact dates for the upcoming season can be found on the festival dates page.
For corporate groups, the rule is: the earlier you book, the better. The period around the Amsterdam Light Festival is one of the busiest times of the year for group cruises. Christmas drinks receptions, end-of-year parties and client events fall in exactly the same weeks as the festival, which means popular dates fill up quickly. Anyone wanting to cruise in October or November would be wise to book in September or at the latest in early October.
If you wait too long, you risk your preferred date or boat no longer being available. Especially if you have a larger group or specific wishes regarding catering or timing, booking early is not a luxury but a necessity.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your corporate cruise during the festival
At Rederij De Nederlanden we arrange everything for your group, from the boat and the skipper to the catering and the route past the light artworks. This is what we can offer:
- Five fixed Light Festival packages with a clear price per person, suitable for groups from 15 people
- Tailor-made private cruises for larger groups or groups with specific wishes regarding catering, drinks, timing or boarding location
- Covered and heated boats, so the festival can be enjoyed comfortably even in winter
- More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam, including locations close to your office or conference venue
- Catering on board from luxury snacks to a three-course dinner with a chef, all in one place
- Shared cruises via shared tickets for small groups of up to 6 people, bookable directly online
Would you like to arrange a complete evening for your team or clients during the Amsterdam Light Festival? Browse the Christmas cruise packages or contact us for a tailor-made quote. We are happy to help you quickly.