The difference between a public and private visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival comes down to one thing: who else is there. With a public visit, you walk or sail alongside other visitors you don’t know. With a private visit, you enjoy the festival exclusively with your own group, at your own pace and with your own programme. For groups, companies, and anyone who really wants to make an evening of it, the private visit is almost always the better choice. Below, we outline the most important questions about public versus private visits.<\/p>\n
A private boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/a> means the entire boat is reserved exclusively for your group. You set the pace, there are no unknown fellow passengers, and everything on board \u2014 from catering to atmosphere \u2014 is fully tailored to you. That makes it a completely different experience from a shared cruise.<\/p>\n In concrete terms, a private boat during the festival offers a number of advantages you simply don’t get with a shared cruise:<\/p>\n With a public visit to the Amsterdam Light Festival, you view the light artworks alongside other festival-goers, either on foot or on a shared boat. The route runs through Amsterdam’s city centre and is freely accessible to walkers. For a shared cruise, you purchase a separate ticket and board at a fixed location.<\/p>\n The festival attracts large numbers of visitors each year during the dark winter months, from November through January. The light artworks are displayed along the canals and can be viewed both on foot and from the water. Walking the route is free and very accessible: you choose when you go, how long you stay, and which works you visit.<\/p>\n For those who prefer to sail but don’t want to book a private boat, shared cruises are also available. With us, you can for example opt for a shared ticket<\/a>: a shared 75-minute cruise along the official festival route, with an English-speaking guide, for a maximum of 6 people per group. The cruise departs three times a day and can be booked directly online from \u20ac32 per person. This is a great option for couples, small groups of friends, or individual visitors who want to see the festival from the water without hiring an entire boat.<\/p>\n The downside of a public visit \u2014 whether on foot or on a shared boat \u2014 is that you have little control over the circumstances. On popular evenings, the route can be busy. On a shared boat, you sit alongside people you don’t know, and the catering and programme are standard.<\/p>\n A private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival is suitable for groups of 15 or more. There is no strict upper limit: for larger groups, the boat is matched to the group size, and for very large parties, multiple boats can be combined.<\/p>\n In practice, it works as follows. For groups that simply want to book a complete package, the fixed private cruise packages<\/a> are the most practical option. These start from 15 persons and offer a clear price per person including catering. For larger groups or groups with specific wishes regarding timing, catering, or boarding location, a custom private cruise is the better choice.<\/p>\n We can accommodate groups of up to 60 people on a single boat. For larger parties, it is possible to combine multiple boats, so even larger corporate groups or events are no problem. The boat is always matched to the group size, ensuring a cosy and comfortable experience on board.<\/p>\n The cost of a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival depends on the type of package and the group size. Fixed packages (Private Cruise Packages) start from \u20ac47.50 per person for groups of 15 to 25 people. A fully tailor-made private cruise (Custom Private Cruise) starts from \u20ac250 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours.<\/p>\n To give a concrete overview of the available packages:<\/p>\n Please note that a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are charged separately. Booking early is recommended: the Amsterdam Light Festival is a busy period and popular evenings fill up quickly.<\/p>\n Yes, a private boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival is an excellent choice for a corporate outing or Christmas drinks. The boat is exclusively for your group, catering and drinks are included in the package, and the light artworks along the route create a special atmosphere. Activity, food, and drinks are all combined in one evening.<\/p>\n For companies, this is one of the most appealing aspects: you don’t need to arrange a separate venue for drinks or dinner. The boat is simultaneously the activity and the party venue. That saves on organisation and ensures a seamless programme. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we sail along the official festival route, passing approximately 20 light artworks by international artists.<\/p>\n For Christmas drinks or an informal team outing, the Drinks & Bites Cruise is a popular choice. For a Christmas dinner or a business client event, the Dinner Cruise or Walking Dinner Cruise is a better fit. For larger groups or specific wishes regarding timing, catering, or entertainment, a custom private cruise for groups<\/a> is the most flexible option.<\/p>\n Whether you want to organise an informal Christmas drinks event or a fully catered business dinner on the water, we take care of it for you. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, we offer three sailing options:<\/p>\n Our historic salon boats are covered, heated, and equipped with an on-board toilet. With more than 150 possible boarding locations in Amsterdam, we always find a departure point that works well for your group.<\/p>\n Would you like to find out more or request a quote directly? View our Christmas cruise packages<\/a> or contact us<\/a> and we’ll be happy to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Private boat or shared cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival? 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What does a public Amsterdam Light Festival visit look like?<\/h2>\n
What group sizes are suitable for a private cruise during the festival?<\/h2>\n
What does a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival cost?<\/h2>\n
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Is a private boat also suitable for a corporate outing or Christmas drinks?<\/h2>\n
How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with your Amsterdam Light Festival visit<\/h2>\n
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