Sightseeing Cruises

Amsterdam Light Festival: 90-min Extended Traditional Cruise with Optional Wine & Snackbox

Illuminated bridge over canal during Amsterdam Light Festival cruise.

Evening cruise boat on Amsterdam canal with illuminated building during Light Festival.

Illuminated swan sculptures on water during Amsterdam Light Festival cruise.

Amsterdam canal cruise boat during the Light Festival at dusk.

Duration

1 hr 30 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

4.8/5

(1,823)

Christine

Dec 2025

Verified booking

5/5

It was beautiful. As it rained a bit, it was nice that the boat was covered and warm. It was no problem to open a window for photos. The staff on board were exceptionally friendly. The young man in service spoke perfect German. The captain was very likeable. His short stories (in English) made the trip pleasant and entertaining. The audio guide, which could be downloaded via smartphone, accompanied us in German. Very pleasant. We really enjoyed this excursion despite the mega-bad weather. Thank you very much!

Nicoletta

Jan 2026

Verified booking

4/5

We went with a group of friends and couldn't miss out on this event that only happens during the holidays. Everything was very well organized. I recommend always arriving at least 10 minutes early. Once we were seated, the captain gave us a warm welcome. In addition to listening in English and Dutch, you could listen in other languages via a QR code. The trip was enjoyable and peaceful, and the beverage service was fast. I loved the poetic tone that described each work, always leaving an existential question at the end that made you reflect. I totally recommend it!!

Sonja

Dec 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The works of art were all very beautiful to look at. The boat trip on the canals was also very nice. The only small drawback was the choice of music that was played through the headphones between the explanations of the individual works of art. During the almost two hours, a total of 4 different songs were played, with the same song being played 10 times in a row before the next song started. We personally found that a bit annoying. Otherwise, it was a very nice experience, which we would be happy to recommend.

Longer than most cruises, the 90-minute experience allows deeper immersion in the fourteenth edition’s Legacy theme across UNESCO-listed canals.

Choose your departure point at Hard Rock Cafe or A’DAM Tower, both centrally located and convenient to suit your evening festival plans.

Covered and heated seating keeps you warm in the winters, while the glass roof offers great visibility of festival artworks across Amsterdam’s canals.

With official narration in three languages (Dutch, English, or German) and onboard toilet facilities, this cruise balances information and comfort during your journey.

Turn your cruise into a more delightful experience by adding a yummy cheesebox, snackbox, or wine to enjoy as you sail.

90-minute cruise along the official Amsterdam Light Festival route

Board from near Hard Rock Cafe or A'dam Tower (as per your selection)

Covered and heated boat

Official Amsterdam Light Festival audio guide (Dutch, English & German)

Toilet on board

Snackbox (as per option selected)

Wine & Cheesebox (as per option selected)

Snack box (chips, popcorn, stroopwafels, nuts, water or soft drink) and drinks (available for purchase)

TOTAL DURATION90 minutes
2 Boarding points
Stadhouderskade 501
Get direction
Badhuisweg 4
Get direction
Sights covered
IJ River, Amsterdam
Herengracht
Westerkerk
The Amstel
Magere Brug
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
VOC Ship Amsterdam

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

4.8
1,823 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.
1.5K
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Guests from France, Germany, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Antje
Jan 2026
Verified booking
4/5
Comfortably and warmly enjoying a beautiful cruise through Amsterdam's canals. Host and captain Bryan told great stories about the light sculptures and about the history of Amsterdam. We enjoyed!
Jacqueline
Jan 2026
Verified booking
4/5
The boat was nice and warm, the explanations in Dutch and English about the beautiful light installations were just right! Not too much and not too little. And you can see very well through the glass windows. Really a nice experience!
Nicoletta
Jan 2026
Verified booking
4/5
We went with a group of friends and couldn't miss out on this event that only happens during the holidays. Everything was very well organized. I recommend always arriving at least 10 minutes early. Once we were seated, the captain gave us a warm welcome. In addition to listening in English and Dutch, you could listen in other languages via a QR code. The trip was enjoyable and peaceful, and the beverage service was fast. I loved the poetic tone that described each work, always leaving an existential question at the end that made you reflect. I totally recommend it!!
Charles
Jan 2026
Verified booking
5/5
The Light Festival Tour was an experience we will never forget. It was shared with my son and family. The Imnformatiojn on the art pieces was essential, as was pointed out by our host captiain at the start of the tour. We were also able to follwo the history of Amsterdam on teh headphones in between the information on teh art pieces!
Liza
Jan 2026
Verified booking
3/5
The staff were very friendly. The seats were all clean and the tables nicely decorated. Everything was explained to us in detail. The package (wine + snack) included what we had booked.

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

Outside food & beverages, sharp metallic tools or objects, and large bags and luggage are not allowed on this experience.

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

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, but you must make a prior reservation to let the providers know.

Additional information

Food and additional drinks are available for purchase on board.

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

Visibility of light installations may vary due to weather and crowding on the boat.

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.