amsterdam light festival

Amsterdam Light Festival 2025-2026

The Amsterdam Light Festival 2025–2026 will take place in the heart of Amsterdam from November 27 to January 18. This year’s theme is Legacy. Starting at 5:00 PM, the artworks will illuminate the city. Discover the festival on foot, by bike, or from the water.

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Groups and companies

What is the Amsterdam Light Festival?

The Amsterdam Light Festival is an annual event that celebrates the magic of winter in Amsterdam. The city’s canals and historic buildings are illuminated with stunning light artworks created by international artists. Each year, a new theme inspires the installations. You can admire the artworks from the water, along the canals, or on foot, attracting visitors from all over the world.

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amsterdam light festival

Where is the Light Festival?

The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place in the city center of Amsterdam, mainly along the city’s historic canals and waterways. The exact locations of the light installations vary each year, but they are generally spread across the following areas:

  1. Canal Belt: Many of the artworks can be seen along the famous canals such as the Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht.
  2. Amstel River: Several installations are often placed along the Amstel River, between the Magere Brug and the Stopera.
  3. Marineterrein: In some editions of the festival, artworks are also displayed at the Marineterrein, a historic area near the center of Amsterdam.

When and how long is the festival?

From Thursday, November 27, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026, the lights are switched on every evening at 5:00 PM and turned off between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, depending on the day. The festival is closed on December 31. Each year, the Light Festival takes place during the dark winter months, usually from late November to late January. You can also enjoy the light spectacle during the Christmas season.

What time does the Amsterdam Light Festival start?

The light installations begin to shine as soon as it gets dark, which in Amsterdam during winter is usually around 5:00 PM or shortly after. The artworks are best experienced once night has fallen.

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About the Amsterdam Light Festival

Preparations for Edition 14 are in full swing. Artists are working on their designs and scouting the best locations along the water route.

This year, the festival revolves around the theme Legacy. The light artworks explore questions such as: How do we want to be remembered? How do we envision the future? What do we want to pass on to the next generations?

During the boat tour, you can admire more than twenty light installations by international artists, ranging from well-known names to emerging talent.

Boarding point Amsterdam Light Festival

Discover the Amsterdam Light Festival on foot, by bike, or from the water. With the walking and cycling routes, you can follow all the artworks using the official app, which is activated after purchasing the route map. The boat route departs from Prins Hendrikkade 33A near Amsterdam Central Station and lasts approximately 75 minutes.

Amsterdam Light Festival cruise

Semi-covered boat

v.a €31,24

  • 75-minute canal cruise
  • Luxury semi-covered boat
  • With skipper and hostess
  • Live commentary about
    the artworks
  • Optional beer, wine,
    and soft drinks
Buy tickets
amsterdam light festival rondvaart

Luxury salon boat

v.a €31,24

  • 75-minute canal cruise
  • Heated salon boat
  • With skipper and hostess
  • Live commentary
    about the artworks
  • Unlimited beer, wine,
    soft drinks, and mulled wine
Buy tickets

Private tour during Light Festival Amsterdam

Would you like to experience the Light Festival from the water? Then book a winter canal cruise during the event. Choose between the luxury boat with unlimited mulled wine, beer, wine, and soft drinks or the luxury salon boat with unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks.

Luxury saloon boat

ALF private cruise

€44,50 p.p

  • Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
  • Private boat with skipper
  • Having drinks on the water
Book package
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Winter BBQ

€64 p.p (+ once €75)

  • Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
  • All-inclusive BBQ
  • Private boat with skipper
Book package
Tapas boat Amsterdam

Tapas cruise

€64,10 p.p

  • Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
  • Complete Tapas menu
  • Private boat with skipper
Book package
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Theme buffet

Price upon request

  • Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
  • Choose from three themes
  • Private boat with skipper
Book package
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3 course dinner

Price upon request

  • Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
  • 3 course dinner
  • Private boat with skipper
Book package
Luxury saloon boat

Tailor-made outing

Price upon request

  • Completely custom
  • Musician optional
  • tailor-made arrangement
Book package

More than 18,000 satisfied locals, tourists and companies preceded you:

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    • How are our outings? Hear it from someone else.

    A great trip

    We just want to let you know that we thought it was a great trip! The ideal way to start the apero and in the meantime discover Amsterdam in a unique way! We would like to say a special thank you to ROGER! We couldn’t imagine a better skipper!
    Ceciel
    Particulier

    Absolutely fantastic

    “It was absolutely fantastic, the weather was beautiful, the food very well prepared, just like the drinks, the super nice skipper and the very nice boat.”
    Martine
    PWC Amsterdam

    Organized down to the last detail

    “Bootuitjes gave us a carefree boat trip, everything was arranged down to the last detail. Especially because of the good communication with Sue. She matched the endless possibilities and our wishes very well. Thank you very much!”
    Britt
    Local Amsterdam

    Everything was top notch

    Rented a happy hour boat with accordion player with friends via Bootuitjes last month. Everything was really well organized, we laughed a lot. We will definitely do more.
    Michel
    Particulier

    Personal

    “From the handling of the application to the course of the outing, Bootuitjes knows how to treat people personally. Great!”
    Theo
    Amazine.com

    Very nice outing

    “It was a very nice outing, from the start we thought along well to give a good interpretation to the boat outing. For example, recommendations were made regarding the boarding and exit location and the routes. Thanks again for the nice outing.”
    Paul
    Local Amsterdam

    Flexible

    “It was all right! Sue’s flexibility was very pleasant and therefore we were able to arrange the outing the way we wanted it.”
    Bertine
    Particulier

    What an experience!

    Had a bachelor party on the boat with a group of girls on Friday, what an experience. Magic Mike even surprised the bachelor with a private show. Thanks Sue!
    Sterre
    Particulier

    It was fantastic

    Team outing with my work arranged through boat outings. Communication was smooth and fast. Had a boat trip in Amsterdam, was fantastic! 100% recommendable. Everything was arranged great. Everyone was enjoying it. Next time we will book through boat trips again. Thanks!
    Thomas
    Plotprojects

    Light festival

    We had a great time during the tour of the light festival! The captain knew a lot to tell along the way!
    Lil
    Particulier

    Beautiful cruise through Amsterdam

    We had a great evening on the party boat with about 50 people! Food and drink was top notch. Arrival and departure well arranged and a nice cruise through Amsterdam. Definitely recommended for a company or department outing.
    Frank
    Green Claim

    Big 10

    Had a very nice bachelor party on the water, with the strip act at the end. I really recommend the Magic Mike boat if you want to organize a bachelor party. Tasty snacks and drinks on the boat, good music and a nice route through Amsterdam. Thanks for taking good care Bootuitjes! We will definitely book again next time. Big 10
    Fleur
    Particulier

    Frequently asked questions about the ALF

    No, we are not official partners. However we are still allowed to cruise during the event.

    The Amsterdam Light Festival is a festival that takes place in winter from november 27, 2025, to January 18, 2026. But don’t worry about the cold, it’s nice and warm in our luxury saloon boats.

    Because the festival is held in the evening, it gets dark early, so you can quickly enjoy all the light artworks in the city.

    The Light Festival can be admired in the walking route and from the water. The route is 2 km long and runs through the Plantage and Weesperbuurt areas of Amsterdam. During the boat route or walking route you can admire a diverse number of aerial artworks.

    Start- and end location: Prins Hendrikkade 33-A, Amsterdam

    Our boat trips during the Festival in Amsterdam are 1,5 hours. Admire all the artworks from your luxurious and cosy saloon boat. You can also enjoy an additional package during this 1.5 hour trip.

    No, we offer outings during the festival for large and small groups. For a large group (10+) we recommend a private boat and for a small group we recommend the individual tickets.

    No, for everyone’s health there is no smoking on the boats. You can light up a cigarette on the side.

    You can book as early or as late as you like. You can book as early or as late as you like. Remember, the longer you wait, the greater the chance that your preferred day is already full. Bookings are often made from 3 months in advance.

    Last-minute booking? Feel free to ask us about the possibilities.

    Yes, we offer different packages. Think of a drinks boat with unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, a BBQ boat or gin and tonic cruise. If you have any other ideas to make your Festival trip even better, please let us know. We are happy to look at the possibilities together.