{"id":46567,"date":"2026-09-01T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/?post_type=kennisbank&#038;p=46567"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:34:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:34:49","slug":"how-to-experience-amsterdam-light-festival-with-a-large-group","status":"publish","type":"kennisbank","link":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-experience-amsterdam-light-festival-with-a-large-group\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Experience the Amsterdam Light Festival With a Large Group?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Experiencing the Amsterdam Light Festival with a large group is best done on a private boat reserved exclusively for your party. That way, everyone can enjoy the light art installations on the water together, without waiting for others or making room for strangers. Below you will find everything you need to know about boat types, group sizes, packages, catering, and the right time to book.<\/p>\n<h2>Which boat types are suitable for large groups at the Amsterdam Light Festival?<\/h2>\n<p>For large groups at the Amsterdam Light Festival, <strong>covered, heated salon boats<\/strong> are the best choice. These historic canal vessels offer ample space, are fully covered, and have a toilet on board. That makes them winterproof for a festival that takes place from November through January. Smaller open boats are less suitable for large groups, both in terms of space and comfort in the cold.<\/p>\n<p>At Rederij De Nederlanden, we sail exclusively with historic salon boats that are covered and heated. The boat is always matched to the group size, so everyone can sit, stand, and move around comfortably. For an evening past the approximately 20 light art installations of the <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/amsterdam-light-festival\/\">Amsterdam Light Festival<\/a>, that makes a big difference: you don&#8217;t have to worry about the cold and can fully enjoy the light show.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have a very large group and want to keep everyone together? It is possible to combine multiple boats, so that groups of more than 60 people can experience the festival together. If you want certainty about a specific boat, a <strong>Custom Private Cruise<\/strong> is the right route: with this option, we guarantee the exact boat that suits your group.<\/p>\n<h2>How many people can join a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival?<\/h2>\n<p>On a private cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival, groups of <strong>15 people or more<\/strong> can join with the Private Cruise Packages. There is no strict upper limit: for larger groups we match the boat to the party, and for very large groups multiple boats can be deployed. The smallest boat accommodates 12 people, the largest 175 people.<\/p>\n<p>The choice between a fixed package or fully customized depends on the group size and preferences. For smaller and medium-sized groups, the <strong>Private Cruise Packages<\/strong> are a practical choice: a clear price per person, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. For larger groups or groups with specific requirements regarding catering, drinks, entertainment, or boarding location, a <strong>Custom Private Cruise<\/strong> is the better option.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have a small group of up to 6 people? There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/amsterdam-light-festival-boat-tour\/\">shared boat tours<\/a> available as a Shared Ticket, where you join a shared boat. This tour lasts 75 minutes, follows the official festival route, and can be booked directly online from \u20ac32 per person. For larger groups, a private boat is always the better choice.<\/p>\n<h2>What are the best packages for a corporate outing during the Amsterdam Light Festival?<\/h2>\n<p>The best packages for a corporate outing during the Amsterdam Light Festival combine the cruise past the light art installations with food, drinks, and an exclusive atmosphere on board. The most popular choices are drinks with snacks, a buffet dinner, or a served dinner, depending on the budget and desired atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>At Rederij De Nederlanden, several fixed packages are available that have been specially put together for corporate outings and group events during the <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/amsterdam-light-festival-group-cruise\/\">Amsterdam Light Festival for groups<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Drinks &amp; Bites Cruise (1.5 hours):<\/strong> luxury snacks on board, from \u20ac47.50 pp for 15\u201325 people and \u20ac45.50 pp for 25+ people. Suitable for an informal drinks reception or team outing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Art &amp; Lights Buffet (2 hours):<\/strong> hot and cold buffet, from \u20ac84.50 pp for 15\u201325 people and \u20ac78.50 pp for 25+ people. Popular for corporate outings and group dinners.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Italian Buffet Cruise (2 hours):<\/strong> Italian buffet, from \u20ac89.50 pp for 15\u201325 people and \u20ac85.50 pp for 25+ people. Suitable for festive corporate gatherings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dinner Cruise (2 hours):<\/strong> three-course dinner with a chef on board, from \u20ac129.50 pp for 15\u201325 people and \u20ac124.50 pp for 25+ people. The right choice for a Christmas dinner or business dinner.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Walking Dinner Cruise (2 hours):<\/strong> multiple small courses, chef on board, free to move around and network, from \u20ac132.50 pp for 15\u201325 people and \u20ac124.50 pp for 25+ people. Ideal for networking events and client gatherings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With all of these packages, the boat is <strong>exclusively for your group<\/strong>: no other guests on board, just your own party. That makes it easy to network, make a toast, or simply relax and chat while Amsterdam&#8217;s lights glide past you.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you combine food and drinks with a boat tour of the Amsterdam Light Festival?<\/h2>\n<p>You combine food and drinks with a boat tour of the Amsterdam Light Festival by choosing a package that includes catering on board. This can range from drinks and snacks with an open bar to a full three-course dinner with a chef on board. That way, you don&#8217;t need to look for a restaurant after the cruise and the evening is complete in one go.<\/p>\n<p>Would you prefer to eat somewhere first before boarding? Amsterdam offers plenty of good options near popular boarding locations. Around Leidseplein and the Jordaan you will find numerous restaurants for a pre-cruise dinner. The area around the Scheepvaartmuseum or the Kloveniersburgwal is also a great base, especially if you want to board directly afterwards for the cruise past the light art installations.<\/p>\n<p>At Rederij De Nederlanden, we offer several catering options on board: from a walking dinner where guests can move freely and network, to a served buffet or a set menu. Drinks are available on consumption or via an open bar. This way, the evening is complete in one location, without the hassle of separate reservations.<\/p>\n<h2>When is the best time to book a boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival?<\/h2>\n<p>The best time to book a boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival is <strong>as early as possible<\/strong>, preferably two to three months before the festival. The Amsterdam Light Festival is one of the busiest periods of the year for boating in Amsterdam. Popular dates, such as weekends in December and the period around Christmas and New Year&#8217;s Eve, fill up quickly.<\/p>\n<p>The festival takes place annually from late November through early January. In 2026, the edition is expected to run from November 2025 through January 2026. If you want to reserve a specific date for a Christmas drinks reception, year-end party, or corporate outing, booking early is not a luxury but simply the smart thing to do.<\/p>\n<p>Please note that for the <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/amsterdam-light-festival-dates\/\">Amsterdam Light Festival dates<\/a>, a festival surcharge and VMR entertainment tax are also calculated separately. Factor these into your budget so you are not caught off guard by the final quote.<\/p>\n<h2>How Rederij De Nederlanden helps with a group cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/h2>\n<p>We are an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival and organize private cruises for groups of various sizes. Whether you have a small group of 15 people or a large corporate party of 100 people, we tailor the boat and package to your wishes. Here is what we concretely offer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Private Cruise Packages:<\/strong> fixed packages with a clear price per person, including boat, skipper, crew, and catering. From \u20ac47.50 pp, for groups of 15 people or more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Custom Private Cruise:<\/strong> fully customized, including choice of boat, catering, drinks, entertainment, and boarding location. More than 150 boarding locations in Amsterdam available.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shared Tickets:<\/strong> for couples and small groups of up to 6 people, bookable directly online from \u20ac32 pp.<\/li>\n<li>Historic, covered, and heated salon boats: winterproof and comfortable for the entire evening.<\/li>\n<li>Fully taken care of: skipper, crew, catering, and drinks are all arranged.<\/li>\n<li>Experience with corporate events, Christmas dinners, year-end parties, and large group cruises.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Would you like to book a <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/amsterdam-light-festival-private-boat-tour\/\">private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/a> or are you curious which package suits your group best? <a href=\"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/contact\/\">Contact us<\/a> and we will be happy to help you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hiring a private boat for the Amsterdam Light Festival with a large group? Discover boat types, packages, and booking tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46567","kennisbank","type-kennisbank","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kennisbank\/46567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kennisbank"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/kennisbank"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kennisbank\/46567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46597,"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kennisbank\/46567\/revisions\/46597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denederlanden.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}