What Makes a Private Evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival So Special?

  • Thomas van Loon
  • 🕐 6 min leestijd

A private evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival is special because the entire boat is reserved exclusively for your group. You cruise past approximately 20 light artworks on the official festival route, while enjoying your own food, drinks, and atmosphere on board, without any other guests. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about a private cruise during the festival, from what you experience differently to how to make the right choice for your group.

What do you see differently on a private boat compared to a regular canal cruise?

On a private boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival you follow the same official festival route as on a regular canal cruise, but the experience is fundamentally different. You are with your own group, on a historic salon boat fully arranged for you, with your own catering and drinks on board. That is the difference between a trip out and a real evening.

On a shared boat, you don’t control the pace, the conversation, or the atmosphere. On a private boat, you do. You can linger at an artwork that catches your eye, shout with enthusiasm about an installation, or simply sit quietly with a glass of wine as the lights glide past. There is no guide rushing you through and no strangers getting in your way.

In addition, our boats are covered and heated, which really makes a difference in December and January. You sit dry, warm, and comfortable while the light artworks pass by outside. For groups who want to make a complete evening of it, that is not only more pleasant — it also means you can enjoy it longer without anyone getting cold or wanting to go home.

What packages are available for a private cruise during the festival?

For a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, various arrangements are available depending on what you want to eat, how long you want to cruise, and how large your group is. The options range from an informal drinks reception with snacks to a full three-course dinner with a chef on board.

With us you can choose from the following Light Festival private cruise packages:

  • Drinks & Bites Cruise (1.5 hours): luxury snacks on board, from €47.50 pp. Ideal for an informal drinks reception or team outing.
  • Art & Lights Buffet (2 hours): hot and cold buffet, from €84.50 pp. Suitable for corporate outings and group dinners.
  • Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours): Italian buffet, from €89.50 pp. Popular for festive gatherings and corporate events.
  • Dinner Cruise (2 hours): three-course dinner with chef on board, from €129.50 pp. The choice for Christmas dinners and business dinners.
  • Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours): multiple small courses, chef on board, free to mingle and network, from €132.50 pp. Perfect for networking events and client evenings.

All packages include boat rental, skipper, and crew. Drinks are available on consumption or as an open bar. Please note that a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are charged separately.

How large does a group need to be for a private cruise?

For a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival you need a minimum of 15 people for the fixed packages. There is no strict upper limit: our boats accommodate a wide range of group sizes, and for very large groups multiple boats can be combined.

If you have a smaller group, there is also the option of a Shared Ticket. This is a shared canal cruise for couples, individual visitors, and small groups of up to 6 people. The cruise lasts 75 minutes, follows the official Amsterdam Light Festival route, has an English-speaking guide, and departs three times a day. Available to book directly online from €32 per person.

For groups of between 15 and 25 people, standard per-person rates apply. From 25 people onwards, the per-person prices decrease, making a private cruise attractive for medium-sized and larger groups. The boat is always matched to the group size, so you never end up on a boat that is too large or too small.

Why do companies choose a private cruise for a Christmas drinks reception or end-of-year party?

Companies choose a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival because it combines an activity, food, and drinks in one location, without you having to arrange anything yourself. It is a unique setting that instantly creates atmosphere, and the fact that the boat is entirely exclusive to your own group provides maximum privacy and freedom.

A Christmas drinks reception at a restaurant is fine, but it is also just another restaurant. A boat on the canals during the light festival is not. The conversation starts before you even step on board, and the light artworks give the evening a natural programme without the need to hire an entertainer.

From a practical standpoint it is also attractive for organizers: one price per person, all inclusive, and no hassle with multiple suppliers. The catering, the boat, the skipper, and the crew are all part of the same arrangement. We have extensive experience with corporate outings in Amsterdam and know what it takes to host a group well, from small teams to large departments.

Booking early is advisable. The period around the Amsterdam Light Festival is busy, especially in December, and the most popular dates fill up quickly.

What is the difference between a private cruise package and a custom private cruise?

A private cruise package is a pre-composed arrangement with a fixed price per person. A custom private cruise is fully tailor-made: you choose the boat, the catering, the drinks, the boarding location, and optionally entertainment. The first is simple and quick to arrange; the second gives you complete control.

The Private Cruise Packages are the smartest choice if you know what you want and have no desire for endless deliberation. You choose a package, confirm the group size and the date, and we take care of the rest. This works well for corporate outings, Christmas celebrations, and groups who want a complete evening without customization.

The Custom Private Cruise is interesting if you have specific requirements. Think of a catering choice not included in the standard packages, a specific boarding location from our more than 150 possible locations in Amsterdam, a particular boat you want guaranteed, or a combination of activities and entertainment on board. The custom cruise starts from €250 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours.

The distinction is therefore not so much a matter of better or worse, but of what suits your situation. Small and medium-sized groups with a clear idea often opt for a package. Larger groups or groups with specific requirements more often go for a tailor-made solution.

How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with a private evening during the Amsterdam Light Festival

We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and offer private cruises for groups of various sizes. This is what we can arrange for you:

  • Exclusive boat for your own group: the entire boat is always reserved for you, no other guests on board.
  • Historic, covered, and heated salon boats: comfortable cruising, even in cold winter weather.
  • Catering and drinks on board: from luxury snacks and buffets to a three-course dinner with a chef, everything is possible.
  • Choice between fixed packages and fully custom arrangements: depending on your wishes and group size.
  • 150+ boarding locations in Amsterdam: depart from a location that suits your group best.
  • Experience with corporate events and group cruises: we know what it takes to make an evening run smoothly.

Would you like to know more or request a quote directly? View our Amsterdam Light Festival group packages or contact us and we will be happy to help.

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