Sightseeing Cruises

Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise

Name: Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise
Start: 2024-11-29T18:30:00
End: 2024-11-29T19:45:00
Location: Amsterdam

Amsterdam canal boat with illuminated art installations during Light Festival.

Amsterdam canal cruise with illuminated art installations during Light Festival.

Amsterdam canal cruise during Light Festival with German guide and drinks.

Guests enjoying cheese and wine on Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise with illuminated cityscape views.

Witness the magic of the 13th annual Amsterdam Light Festival, featuring 7 stunning light artworks, from the comfort of a heated canal cruise on the Amstel River.

Highlights

Drift through Amsterdam's illuminated wonderland on a cozy, heated canal boat and get a front-row seat to the mesmerizing Amsterdam Light Festival.
Prepare for a light-filled adventure as you choose from three convenient boarding points, and glide through Amsterdam for 75 or 90 mins, with an audio guide.
Feel the magic of the Festival from the open deck and marvel at views of 27 light displays celebrating the theme Rituals, each a masterpiece of illumination.
Immerse in the legacy of Amsterdam's 750th anniversary through five stunning permanent light artworks located in the Greater Amsterdam Region.
Did you know? In addition to the light installations, the festival often features live music performances, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.

Inclusions

75/90-min Amsterdam Lights Festival canal cruise (as per option selected)
Boarding from Anne Frank House, Hard Rock Cafe, or Central Station (as per option selected)
Experienced skipper host
Audio guide
Headphones (as per option selected)
Free WiFi onboard (as per option selected)
Open deck
Heated boat (as per option selected)

Exclusions

Food and drinks

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.2

491 ratings

5/5

319

4/5

3/5

2/5

1/5

Victorien

4/5

Jan, 2024

Nice in evening through the canal, could for me dwell a little longer at the light pardae exhibits, we sat backwards so was sometimes a little difficult viewing, especially for my elderly mother, but otherwise nice audio tour! And nice and warm in the boat and clean.

View original review in Dutch

Delamare

4/5

Jan, 2024

The festival is magnificent, and the French commentaries on the town's history are interesting. The inhabitants decorate their houses beautifully, adding to the artistic spectacle. The works of light are not of equal quality, but some are truly moving. The big drawback is that the whole thing lacks organization: you can end up outside the boat without wanting to, and it's not warm in the evening! The works are not commented in French, and the headphones are of poor quality.

View original review in French

Souad

4/5

Dec, 2023

The cruise was superb, with covered boats, which comes in handy when it's cold. The lights were superb and with the audio-guide it's interesting!

View original review in French

Louise

3/5

Dec, 2023

The lights were nice. when we got there the first person who checked our tickets did not direct us to the correct line. We nearly missed our tour. We had to insist a second person check our tickets (she initially refused as she thought I was in the same group as another customer in front of us). The other staff nearly didn't let us board the boat for the lights festival. When we got on, the windows were super dirty and we couldn't really see outside. Dirty from dust not jsut misty from the cold. Only about 10% of the people were using the audio guide, so the boat was SUPER noisy i could barely hear the audio guide myself. Then the boat hit the wall and everyone on the boat screamed.

Marianne

5/5

Dec, 2023

The individual expositions/art works in connection with the general winter and Christmas lighting of the city, the boat trip

View original review in German

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Your experience

Let there be lights!

Sail out on an enchanting journey aboard a heated canal boat, for a gateway to a world of luminous wonder at the Amsterdam Light Festival Board from any of three convenient points and float gently along the tranquil waters for 75 or 90 mins, witnessing Amsterdam's grandeur from an entirely new vantage point. Engage in live commentary by a skipper guide about the artworks, their visionary creators, and the tapestry of themes they weave.

A tribute to life's rituals

The 13th edition of the Amsterdam Lights Festival opens on 28th November, with the theme 'Rituals'. Behold a gallery of light, where 27 luminous masterpieces celebrating the rituals of life will adorn the city, nestled harmoniously in and around the city's historic canals. Witness Amsterdam's winter cityscape come alive with the radiant glow of illuminated bridges and historic buildings.

Know before you go

Accessibility

Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.

Additional information

The Amsterdam Light Festival begins on November 30, 2024, and runs until January 19, 2025.
Waiting time can occur even with a timeslot due to large crowds.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the boarding point.
Please arrive at the boarding point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.