Take one of Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises and experience the light through Amsterdam UNESCO canals! Every year Amsterdam Light Festival transforms the center of Amsterdam into a 53-day light art exhibition. This season the Light festival takes place from 28 November 2024 to 19 January 2025. You can explore it by walking, but in fact this unique light art experience is best seen from the water.
Here is everything you need to know about types of Light Festival canal cruises, prices, departure locations and more.
Tickets: for the 2024/2025 festival season are already for sale. Order tickets with an early-bird discount.
Types of Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises
Canal boat cruise
This is the most classical Light Festival canal cruise in Amsterdam. You will sail in a large heated canal boat with glass windows and roof. On board you will hear the information about artworks via speakers or headsets. On most boats the audio guide is available in English and Dutch.
There are several departure locations of these types of cruises. To our taste, the most convenient is Prins Hendrikkade 25, Amsterdam (the Lovers Canal Cruises dock), just across the Central station.
Another good option is ALF canal cruise departing from Amsterdam North, near A’DAM Lookout.
Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises including drinks
What can be better than enjoying the evening light show and warm drinks at the same time? Our favourite canal cruises with drinks are:
- Amsterdam Light Festival: Cruise with unlimited drinks & bites with an open bar with beer, wine, soda, mulled wine, coffee and tea (departure point: Amstel 178, Amsterdam).
- Amsterdam Light Festival: Canal cruise with glühwein or hot chocolate (departure location: Stationplein 18, Amsterdam).
Open boat cruise
Open boats are big open sloops. You will be accompanied by the skipper (sometimes also a live guide) who will tell you all about the festival artworks. Open festival boats have blankets to keep you warm.
Please note: canal cruise departure locations differ per boat company. Please check the departure locations in the ticket shop or in your ticket if you already have one.
Private or small group canal tours
There are different boat companies in Amsterdam who offer private or small group Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises in more special boats.
Your own boat
If you have an own boat, you can buy the official Amsterdam Light Festival App (available from 25 November 2024), which contains the route, artwork descriptions and the nautical rules. Please note: a part of the festival canal route is forbidden for unmotorized vehicles.
Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise route
Amsterdam Light Festival route consists of 27 unique artworks, which you will pass by or sail underneath. You also have spectacular views of the Amsterdam canals by night.
Festival cruises opening hours and departure times
Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises will sail from 28 November 2024 to 19 January 2025. Most cruises depart every 30 minutes, between 16:45 and 21:30.
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