Amsterdam · AMSTERDAM LIGHT FESTIVAL CRUISES
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 amsterdam light festival cruises justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
See about 20 Amsterdam Light Festival installations from a warm, covered electric boat. Your English-speaking host explains the art, canals, and city, while the optional drinks package adds beer, wine, glühwein, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and a snack.
“Went well. I wouldn’t recommend this option if it is raining or snowing.”
Take a 75-minute heated canal cruise from Prins Hendrikkade near Central Station. Sip beer, wine, or soft drinks, watch Amsterdam’s Light Festival artworks, and hear English commentary from your captain. Some guides, including Bobby Brown and Chris, add music and plenty of personality.
“It was a wonderful time. The tour guides and the staff working there were so helpful, especially to my dad who is a wheelchair user. The staff helped to get my dad down the stairs and into the boat. For future reference, please add that this activity may not be suitable for wheelchair users. However, even though it wasn’t suitable, the staff made sure it was comfortable for my dad, and that means a lot! Thank you!”
Spend 75 minutes on Amsterdam’s canals aboard a covered, heated classic saloon boat. Your English-speaking host explains more than 20 light artworks, city history, bridges, and canal sights while beer, wine, mulled wine, soft drinks, and optional snacks are served.
“The host was absolutely amazing. His knowledge, enthusiasm and humor made it a truly beautiful experience. Drinks were flowing and the atmosphere was amazing”
You’ll cruise Amsterdam’s winter canals for 1.5 hours on a covered electric boat, hearing live commentary in English or Dutch. Captain Han has earned praise for his warm, funny style. An audio guide, artwork brochure, and drinks onboard make this a relaxed way to see the festival.
“It was really nice! We liked the light Festival and our Guide a lot :)”
Cruise Amsterdam’s canals and the Amstel for about 75 minutes, passing Central Station, NEMO, the Magere Brug area, and Light Festival installations. English-speaking guides such as Sabrina, Roger, Olly, Hannah, and Andreas add city stories, while the unlimited drinks option includes warm choices such as glühwein and hot chocolate.
“As soon as I got to Amsterdam, I knew I'd want to be in the water on the canals and I think night is maybe the best time for that if the weather permits! The glow of the lights on the water makes everything even more magical. The 2024 Light Festival was great! Our hosts on board the boat were friendly, knowledgable about the festival and were great about checking in with everyone to make sure their drinks were full! The pick up point was clearly marked as well and everything ran very smoothly. Worth every penny!”
Spend 75 minutes on Amsterdam’s canals beneath more than 20 Light Festival artworks. A local skipper and live guide explain the displays, while the covered boat offers warmth, blankets, and optional unlimited glühwein, hot chocolate, beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks.
“We were a little worried at first that it would be a tourist trap and when we saw the line of people, but we had a great time!! The guide was outstanding!!! Funny and also with some history - very amusing, friendly and we all had a fun trip.”
Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO listed Canal Ring for 75 minutes while illuminated artworks reflect on the water. Your skipper and live guide provide commentary, with optional unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, plus a small bite or stroopwafel.
“Not as advertised, boat was nothing like advertised, ended up being one step up from a dinghy with a plastic cover over it huddled around a picnic table, it rained which meant you couldn’t see anything of the light displays or take photos through the plastic tent, even if it wasn’t raining you would have serious neck problems trying to keep stretching to turn round and you were sat with your back to the side of the boat. Hot drink is from a vacuum flask and you got 1 waffle (so much for unlimited). Staff very disorganised as they didn’t know my booking was with them or not, stood waiting…”
Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival for about 75 minutes in a covered saloon boat with a live guide, hot drinks, and a small bite if you choose the upgrade. Guides such as Salim, Celia, Eric, Edom, Stan, and Randy have earned warm praise, but crowded seating, foggy windows, and delays can affect the ride.
“The tour guide was lovely and did a great job. That is, once we got on a boat. We arrived in time for the tour to the location linked and depicted in our tickets We arrived in time for the tour and got in line. They loaded a couple of boats and stopped loading right as they got to us, for the next boat. We were ten minutes after our scheduled time. Several minutes later, the last boat showed up across the canal. It drove off after unloading its passengers. Not to us, but down the canal. No one noticed, of the staff. It was at least three minutes or…”
Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival route for 75 minutes aboard a covered Flying Dutch Boats vessel. A local skipper and live guide point out the 20-plus artworks, while your selected package may include a snack, unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, and soft drinks.
“Well first of all we where standing in the cold and after an hour the boot arrived and it was freezing cold inside”
Join a guide under an orange umbrella at Dam Square for a two-hour winter walk past the Royal Palace, Munttoren, Flower Market, Begijnhof, Nine Streets, and Jordaan. Finish with hot chocolate and a hands-on stroopwafel workshop at Melly’s.
“The tour stated "meet in Dam square". There were several thousand people protesting in Dam square that day, the tour group was nowhere to be found. I never heard from them.”
Join an English-speaking host and skipper near Amsterdam Central Station for a 75-minute Light Festival cruise. You’ll pass NEMO, Magere Brug, Herengracht, and other canal landmarks while viewing illuminated art from a covered boat. Select the package with unlimited beer, wine, Glühwein, sodas, and snacks.
Board a covered, heated electric boat at Central Station for a 75-minute Amsterdam Light Festival cruise. Your captain guides you through the canal belt, explaining the light artworks and city history. Unlimited beer and gluhwein, blankets, and a hostess are included.
“really nice skipper, and the heating was a good help!”
Spend 75 minutes on KINboat’s open canal boat, viewing Amsterdam Light Festival installations from the water. An English or Dutch guide explains the Rituals theme, while blankets and warm drinks help with the winter cold. Captain Dule may be at the helm on some departures.
“Very nice boat tour! our Skipper was friendly, he gave us a lot of information about the city as well as about the light festival. Free thee onboard and Mulled wine for 3€. Would reccomend!”
You’ll spend 75 minutes aboard a heated, covered saloon boat viewing Amsterdam Light Festival installations from the canals. An English-speaking guide explains the art and annual theme. Choose the basic cruise or add unlimited mulled wine, beer, sodas, and snacks.
Settle into a private KINboat for a 75-minute evening cruise through Amsterdam’s canals during the Light Festival. Your captain handles the route while you watch the installations, hear live English commentary, and, on December 31, enjoy snacks and unlimited drinks.
“Disappointed in the Light Festival Canal tour. The light displayed were not holiday oriented and very spread out. When we got to the location we were told to get on a specific boat. It was not fully enclosed as the picture shows. There ended up only being 3 of us on the boat. It appeared KIN had other boats,with more people, so not sure why we were put on this one. I will say our Captain/Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and did a good job.”
Pick a canal, a museum or a village.
