Sightseeing Cruises

Amsterdam Light Festival: 75-min Traditional Cruise With Optional Unlimited Drinks

Name: Amsterdam Light Festival: 75-min Traditional Cruise With Optional Unlimited Drinks
Start: 2025-12-19T17:30:00
End: 2025-12-19T17:30:00
Location: Amsterdam

Amsterdam Light Festival cruise boat under illuminated arches at night.

People enjoying the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, taking photos through the boat's glass roof.

Amsterdam Light Festival cruise with illuminated fountains and light display.

Guests viewing illuminated art installation on Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise.

Duration

1 hr 15 min

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.6/5

(1,445)

Carine

Nov 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Amsterdam’s canals and bridges turn into a nighttime museum of glowing installations, reflections, and sculptures. The artworks blend with the historic architecture in a way that feels almost cinematic. Each year has a new theme—ideas like “Disrupt!” or “Imagine Beyond” and artists from around the world create installations that respond to it. Many pieces spark reflection about technology, climate, community, or imagination.

Silvana

Dec 2025

Verified booking

5/5

It was a very nice experience and our captain was a great skipper. I can only recommend this event. We had the 7:45 p.m. cruise and were of course amazed by the illuminated works of art, which don't really come into their own in the light. We walked past some of them without even realizing that they were there. So make sure you book the boat after dark.

Lisa

Nov 2025

Verified booking

4/5

A nice evening boat trip around Amsterdam's canals with a friendly skipper. The Winter Lights themselves were a bit underwhelming. We were spoilt by the Lumiere in London a few years ago and by the light show on the lake at Latitude festival.

With 75 minutes on the water, this official festival route offers more artworks, better views, and a more complete evening experience.

Three easy departure points give flexibility, whether you’re near Rijksmuseum, Restaurant Loetje, Centraal Station or exploring Jordaan and want to board near the Anne Frank House.

Comfort is guaranteed with heated cabins and wide glass views, plus restroom facilities so you never have to cut the trip short.

Audio guides in Dutch and English provide context, while skipper stories add local flavour, making illuminated artworks more engaging and memorable.

Select extras like unlimited beer, wine, and soda from the well-stocked bar, or back deck lounging that offers fresh air and better photography.

75-min cruise along the official Amsterdam Light Festival route

Board from near Centraal Station, Rijksmuseum, Restaurant Loetje or Anne Frank House (as per option selected)

Heated & covered boat with a glass roof

Audio guide in Dutch and English

Skilled captains & friendly skippers with unique stories

Unlimited drinks (beer, wine & soda) (as per option selected)

Free Wi-Fi (as per option selected)

Lounge on the back deck (as per option selected)

Restroom on board

TOTAL DURATION75 minutes
MODE OF TRANSFERBoat
3 Boarding points
Amsterdam Circle Line - Stationsplein
Get direction
Amsterdam Circle Line - Prinsengracht
Get direction
Stromma - Damrak 22
Get direction
Sights covered
Amsterdam Centraal Station
Amsterdam Canal Ring
Hortus Botanicus
Magere Brug
Herengracht
Grachtengordel
Brouwersgracht
Haarlemmersluis
De Negen Straatjes
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
NEMO Science Museum
VOC Ship Amsterdam
Oosterdok
IJ River
Anne Frank House
Oosterdokseiland

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

4.6
1,445 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
1.2K
55
90
67
33
Guests from United Kingdom, France, Germany and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Michelina
Dec 2025
Verified booking
5/5
I participated in the 75-minute canal cruise in Amsterdam for the Amsterdam Light Festival booked through Headout, and the experience was really wonderful! The boat was very nice, well heated, and surprisingly spacious, perfect for enjoying the ride in total comfort. The large windows all around the perimeter allowed you to admire the light installations without missing a single detail. Despite the rain, the view remained excellent: the defrosters and ventilation system kept the windows clean and clear at all times. The atmosphere on board was pleasant and relaxing, accompanied by an audio guide in Dutch and English who told trivia and explained the festival's works in a clear and interesting way. Overall it was a really nice experience, well organized and perfect for experiencing the charm of illuminated Amsterdam. I absolutely recommend it!
Silvana
Dec 2025
Verified booking
5/5
It was a very nice experience and our captain was a great skipper. I can only recommend this event. We had the 7:45 p.m. cruise and were of course amazed by the illuminated works of art, which don't really come into their own in the light. We walked past some of them without even realizing that they were there. So make sure you book the boat after dark.
Jean-charles
Dec 2025
Verified booking
3/5
We were supposed to have unlimited drinks but we only had one drink of hot chocolate diluted with water. The overall experience and comments from the driver weee nice but only provided in English and not in Nederland. Driver however was driving super safely and super gently.
Michele
Dec 2025
Verified booking
5/5
It was a bit confusing at the dock to know if you were in the correct place because the pier wasnt kisted on the ticket, but someone was available for questions. Overall was a great experience for the Winter Light Festival
Frederic
Dec 2025
Verified booking
3/5
Most of the time we were stuck in ship traffic, so the route took 15 min longer than expected. Also the light festival art installations were to few. We expected more. It is not the fault of the boat agency.

What to bring

Have your entry tickets and ID ready for a seamless experience.

Carry your earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What’s not allowed

Sharp metallic tools or objects, and non-folding wheelchairs and baby strollers are not allowed on this experience.

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

Accessibility

This experience is difficult for people with reduced mobility, since there are a few steps that you would have to climb to board the boat.

Additional information

The boat is heated and covered, but outdoor areas may still be cold during the winter months.

The cruise operates during the Amsterdam Light Festival, with various departure times throughout the evening from November 27, 2025, through January 18, 2026.

The cruise operates from three different departure locations. Please ensure you check your confirmation email and arrive on time at the correct location.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.