{"id":46122,"date":"2026-09-28T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/?post_type=kennisbank&p=46122"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:21:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:21:35","slug":"how-to-organize-a-christmas-drinks-party-during-amsterdam-light-festival","status":"publish","type":"kennisbank","link":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-organize-a-christmas-drinks-party-during-amsterdam-light-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Organize a Christmas Party During the Amsterdam Light Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can organize a Christmas drinks reception during the Amsterdam Light Festival by reserving a private boat that sails the official light art route, combined with snacks and drinks on board. This way you combine the atmosphere of the festival with a complete drinks experience for your group, without having to arrange multiple venues. In this article, we answer the five most frequently asked questions about how to approach this practically.<\/p>\n

When does the Amsterdam Light Festival take place and how long does a boat tour last?<\/h2>\n

The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place annually in the winter months, typically from late November through January. In 2026, the festival is expected to run from December through January. The boat tours along the light art works last between 75 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the type of tour.<\/p>\n

During the festival, approximately 20 light art works can be seen along the Amsterdam canals, spread across the official festival route. The works change every year, which makes the festival interesting for returning visitors as well. The combination of historic canal houses, dark water, and colorful light installations makes winter evenings in Amsterdam particularly atmospheric.<\/p>\n

For a Christmas drinks reception, the timing of the festival is ideal: it coincides exactly with the period in which companies organize their year-end party or Christmas drinks. A boat tour of one and a half to two hours is more than enough for drinks with snacks, but also short enough to go somewhere else in the city for food or drinks afterwards. If you want to know more about the exact dates, check the festival dates of the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/a> for the most up-to-date information.<\/p>\n

What type of boat is most suitable for a Christmas drinks reception?<\/h2>\n

For a Christmas drinks reception during the Amsterdam Light Festival, a covered, heated salon boat<\/strong> is most suitable. You stay dry, it is warm on board, and everyone can comfortably stand or sit while the boat sails past the light art works. This makes it a pleasant experience even in winter, regardless of the weather.<\/p>\n

At a drinks reception, you want people to be able to move freely, talk to each other, and easily access the drinks and snacks. An open sloop is less suitable for that in winter: it is cold, there is little room to stand, and in rain it quickly becomes uncomfortable. A classic salon boat or a more spacious city tender with a covered area offers much more comfort for a group that wants to enjoy drinks.<\/p>\n

With us, all boats for the Amsterdam Light Festival run on electricity, are fully covered and heated, and have a toilet on board. The boat is matched to the size of your group, so it never feels too cramped or too empty. With a private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/a>, the entire boat is reserved exclusively for your group, which benefits the drinks atmosphere.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between a private cruise package and a custom private cruise?<\/h2>\n

The most important difference is the degree of customization. A private cruise package<\/strong> is a pre-assembled arrangement with a fixed price per person, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. A custom private cruise<\/strong> is fully tailor-made: you choose the boat, the catering, the drinks options, the boarding location, and optionally entertainment.<\/p>\n

For most Christmas drinks receptions, a private cruise package is the simplest choice. You know exactly what you get, what it costs, and what is arranged. That saves a lot of organizational work, which is often the biggest advantage for an HR manager or office manager organizing a Christmas drinks reception.<\/p>\n

A custom private cruise is especially interesting if you have a larger group, have specific wishes around catering, want a particular boarding location, or if you want to fill the program in a different way. Think of a group of 80 people where you want to determine the menu yourself, or a company that also wants entertainment on board. With us, a custom private cruise starts from \u20ac250 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours.<\/p>\n

Not sure which option suits your group best? On the page about the Amsterdam Light Festival for groups<\/a> you will find an overview of the options.<\/p>\n

What catering suits a Christmas drinks reception on the water?<\/h2>\n

For a Christmas drinks reception on the water, catering that is informal, easy to eat while standing or walking, and that fits the festive atmosphere of the winter months is ideal. Think of luxury appetizers, a hot-and-cold buffet, or a walking dinner where several small dishes are served.<\/p>\n

The choice depends on how long the tour lasts and what kind of feeling you want to create. A few concrete options:<\/p>\n