Amsterdam Light Festival 2019 -2020
Nov 28 – Jan 19
Join us this winter for a spectacular cruise during the 8th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival.
Cruise past the many light installations that are placed in and along the canals of Amsterdam. We offer comfortably heated classic boats for an intimate experience or an open boat for those who are willing to bear the cold in search of fantastic photo opportunities. You can book a private boat with us or purchase tickets online for a 1,5-hour cruise leaving regularly every evening from our location in the center of town.
Classic Canal Cruise
During the Amsterdam Light Festival, our Classic Canal Cruise will depart twice during the evening for a cruise past the light installations in the canals. Our captain is your live guide and the tour includes hot Glühwine and hot chocolate. Other beverages are also available. The cruise is on one of our heated salon boats and lasts 1,5 hours. Departure is from our easily accessible location on the Singel number 359 in the center of town.
- Departures: 17:30 & 19:30
- € 32,50 per person
- 1,5-hour cruise
- live commentary
- includes Glüwein and hot chocolate
- boarding at Singel (center)
Open Boat Cruise
Ready for a truly unique adventure? Book our Open Boat Cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival. We’ll help you beat the cold with Glühwein, hot chocolate, and blankets while you enjoy a spectacular up-close view of the light installations on the water. Departs from the center of town during the weekends and Christmas vacation. The open boat has comfortable cushions and a toilet on board.
- Departures: 18:30 & 20:30
- € 27,50 per person
- 1,5-hour cruise
- live commentary
- includes Glüwein and hot chocolate
- boarding at Singel (center)
Private Boat
Book a private boat tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival and pick your own time’s to cruise past all the light installations. We can arrange custom tours on any of our classic salon boats ranging from just-drinks to complete dinners. Let us know what you require and we will make the best possible suggestions for your cruise. Pick-up can be anywhere in the canal zone or at our location in the center of town.
- Flexible times
- starting from € 175,- per hour
- flexible times
- pick-up at your hotel
- Full-service bar
- choice of catering
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History of the festival
In 2009, Vincent Horbach and Henk Jan Buchel were inspired to create a reoccurring event in Amsterdam during the winter months. Despite limited resources, they organized the first Christmas Canal Parade in the hope of unleashing a new Amsterdam tradition. A few years later, in 2012, this resulted in the Amsterdam Light Festival. This became a festival not only for locals but resulted to become the international Light installations were placed throughout the city center. The artworks on and on the Amstel formed the “Boulevard of Light”. The walking path that is illuminated by many light artworks is called “The Illuminade”. In the context of social involvement, special projects were also launched under the name “Socialight”. These three elements will be recurring parts of the following editions. At the same time, very enterprising Amsterdam was invited to tune their program to the festival. From hotel specialists to museums. Everyone could benefit from this event. Afterwards, the first edition of the festival turned out to be a big hit. The new tradition Horbach and Buchel hoped for was born.