For a private arrangement during the Amsterdam Light Festival, you need a minimum of 15 people. The boats of Rederij De Nederlanden are always reserved exclusively for one group, and the group size determines which arrangement fits best: from an informal drinks cruise for small teams to a fully catered dinner for large corporate groups. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about group size, arrangements, and planning.
How many people can fit on a canal boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The capacity of a canal boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival varies greatly per boat. At Rederij De Nederlanden, the smallest boats can accommodate up to 12 people, while the largest vessels offer space for 175 people. The boat is always matched to the group size, so everyone sits comfortably on board.
That makes the festival accessible for both small teams and large corporate groups. If you want to experience the festival with a large group of 50 people or more, in most cases there is one boat available that can handle that. For very large groups, multiple boats can also be deployed sailing simultaneously.
All boats are covered and heated, which is a major advantage during the winter months of the festival. You therefore don’t need to count on good weather to comfortably enjoy the light artworks. A toilet is also available on board, which certainly matters on longer cruises.
The route follows the official Amsterdam Light Festival route past approximately 20 light artworks. The exact route may vary due to traffic, weather, or the chosen boarding location, but the skippers know the course inside and out.
What is the minimum group size for a private arrangement?
The minimum group size for a private arrangement at Rederij De Nederlanden is 15 people. From that number, you can choose from the fixed Private Cruise Packages, where you book a complete evening at a clear price per person. Smaller groups of up to 6 people can use the Shared Tickets for a shared canal cruise.
If you are with a group of 2 to 14 people and still want to cruise privately, a Custom Private Cruise is the designated option. With that, you hire a boat exclusively for your group and put together the program entirely to your own wishes. The costs are then calculated based on the boat and the sailing duration, not per person.
For groups that want to experience the festival in a different way without sailing, there are also good alternatives. The Amsterdam Light Festival can in fact also be visited entirely on foot. The route runs along the canals in the city center and is freely accessible. That makes walking a logical choice for small groups or as an addition to an evening in the city.
Which arrangement suits a small corporate outing of 10 to 30 people best?
For a corporate outing of 10 to 30 people during the Amsterdam Light Festival, there are several good options, both on and off the water. The choice depends on what you want: an evening full of atmosphere and movement, a shared dinner, or a combination of activity and food.
Walking along the light artworks and dining afterwards
A popular choice for small groups is to explore the festival route on foot and then eat together at one of the restaurants near the canals. The Jordaan, the Negen Straatjes, and the area around the Leidseplein are close to the festival route and offer plenty of restaurant options for groups. This works well if you want to stay flexible and don’t want to fix everything in advance.
Private cruise with food and drinks on board
If you want to combine activity and food in one program, a private cruise is a strong option. At Rederij De Nederlanden, from 15 people you can choose from fixed arrangements with a clear price per person. The Drinks & Bites Cruise lasts 1.5 hours and starts from €47.50 per person. This is an informal choice that suits a team outing or drinks well. The Art & Lights Buffet and Italian Buffet Cruise last 2 hours and offer a hot and cold buffet for €84.50 and €89.50 per person respectively. For groups that prefer a served dinner, the Dinner Cruise with a three-course menu and chef on board is available from €129.50 per person.
The boat is fully reserved exclusively for your group with all arrangements. That means no other guests on board and complete freedom in atmosphere and program.
If you are with fewer than 15 people and still want to cruise, the Shared Tickets are an option for groups of up to 6 people, or you can request a Custom Private Cruise for a fully tailor-made cruise.
How do you organize an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise for a large group of 50 people or more?
For a group of 50 people or more during the Amsterdam Light Festival, a Custom Private Cruise is the most suitable choice. With this, you choose a boat that matches the group size, put together the catering as desired, and decide the timing and boarding location yourself. Rederij De Nederlanden has more than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, which provides a great deal of logistical flexibility.
With large groups, it is smart to book early. The Amsterdam Light Festival attracts many visitors and the demand for private cruises in the evening hours is high. By reserving in time, you guarantee the boat and time slot that best fit your program.
For catering with large groups, multiple options are available: from luxury snacks and a buffet to a walking dinner where guests can move freely and network. A chef on board is possible, as is an open bar or selected wines. This way, the cruise becomes not just an activity, but a complete evening.
If you want to cruise with a very large group of more than 100 people, multiple boats can be deployed simultaneously. That requires a bit more coordination, but is easily arranged via an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise for large groups.
When do you choose a fixed price per person versus fully custom?
A fixed price per person via a Private Cruise Package is the best choice if you want a clear budget per head, want minimal organizational effort, and are looking for a complete arrangement. Fully custom via a Custom Private Cruise is a better fit if you have specific wishes around catering, drinks, entertainment, timing, or boarding location, or if you are sailing with a very large group.
Concretely speaking: if you want to organize a corporate drinks or team dinner with a group of 15 to 40 people and don’t want to arrange too much, choose one of the fixed packages. The price per person is clear, everything is included, and you only need to choose the date and the arrangement.
Do you have a group with specific dietary requirements, do you want to choose your own boarding location, or do you want to combine the program with entertainment or a speaker on board? Then custom is the better choice. A Custom Private Cruise starts from €250 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours and offers complete freedom in composition.
Please note: with both options, the festival surcharge and the VMR entertainment tax are added separately to the price. Keep this in mind when calculating the total budget.
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with arranging your group arrangement
Whether you want to experience the Amsterdam Light Festival with 15 or 150 people, we arrange it for you. Here is what we offer:
- Private Cruise Packages from 15 people, with a clear price per person and all catering included
- Custom Private Cruises for large groups or groups with specific wishes, fully tailor-made
- Shared Tickets for small groups of up to 6 people who want to cruise on a shared boat
- Covered and heated historic salon boats, suitable for the winter months
- Choice of multiple catering formats: from drinks and buffet to three-course dinner and walking dinner
- More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam for maximum flexibility
- Early booking recommended due to high demand during the festival
Would you like to know which arrangement suits your group best? Contact us and we will be happy to think along with you about the best option for your evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival.