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Sightseeing Cruises

Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise

Canal boat passing under illuminated bridge during Amsterdam Light Festival.
Canal cruise boat under illuminated bridge during Amsterdam Light Festival.
Amsterdam canal cruise passing through illuminated tunnel during Light Festival.
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
    • 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 sail for 75 or 90 mins, with an English and Dutch 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.

    • 75/90-min Amsterdam Lights Festival canal cruise (as per option selected)

    • Boarding from Anne Frank House, A'DAM Lookout, or Central Station (as per option selected)

    • Experienced skipper host

    • Audio guide in English and Dutch

    • Headphones

    • Free WiFi onboard

    • Open deck

    • Heated boat

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

  • 4.7
    3,089 ratings

    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.

    2.6K
    166
    147
    122
    11
    Guests from France, Germany, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Robert Panther

    Robert

    Dec 2024
    Verified booking
    4/5
    The most comfortable way to see the light installations of the Light Festival, where you don't get wet even in light rain. It's just a shame that the audio guide didn't work in the open rear area of the boat.
    Katie Ellison

    Katie

    Dec 2024
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The captain was knowledgeable, funny and very friendly. The views were gorgeous, definitely reccomend.
    Cody Chi-Yau Lee

    Cody

    Jan 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Long queue but worth the wait. Great experience overall in a warm boat. Very cool artwork in the lightshow along the lovely canals of Amsterdam. Got to meet a few people on the ride along the way too
    Valentina Gasso

    Valentina

    Jan 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    Very nice cruise, too bad that some explanations, the ones given by the helmsman ( very nice) were in English... instead we had headphones to listen in Italian to the other general explanations about the city.. anyway I recommend it
    Antonella Longo

    Antonella

    Jan 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The light festival is a wonderful experience because it combines the beauty of the city as seen from the water with particularly beautiful light installations. Highly recommend.
  • 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, or listen to the bilingual audio guide available in Dutch and English.

    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.

  • Accessibility

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

    • This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

    Additional information

    • Waiting time can occur even with a timeslot due to large crowds.

    • Most boats are covered and heated, allowing you to enjoy regardless of the weather.

    • Open boats offer blankets on board to keep you warm. In case of extreme weather, the open boat tour will not go ahead. Instead, you can reschedule your booking or switch your ticket to a covered boat tour.

    • 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.

    Boarding point

    • Please check your final voucher for the boarding point details and specific instructions.

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