Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise 2024 – 2025

Ready to be enchanted by the Amsterdam Light Festival from the water? At Blue Boat, you can board the official Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, offering you a unique way to experience the city. And the best part? You’ll enjoy this visual spectacle from a covered and heated boat, ensuring you’re comfortable as the magic of Amsterdam passes by. During the winter months, the canals are transformed into a breathtaking open-air gallery filled with light installations, specially created by artists from around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Rituals,’ highlighting the magical connection between light and rituals. As you cruise through the canals, you’ll see not only the iconic bridges illuminated but also the most impressive artworks lighting up the city. The festival runs from November 28, 2024, to January 19, 2025.

What can you expect from our Amsterdam Light Festival cruise in 2024?

During this 90-minute cruise, you will sail past over twenty light installations, each with a unique story. The installations are carefully placed along the canals, creating a stunning combination with the historic surroundings of Amsterdam. Whether you are admiring the famous illuminated bridges or seeing modern art up close, you are guaranteed an unforgettable evening on the water. Plus, you’ll enjoy added comfort as the boat is not only heated and covered, but it also has a toilet on board for your convenience.

During the cruise, you will have the opportunity to listen to the official Amsterdam Light Festival audio guide, available in Dutch, English & German. This will give you insight into the background of the artworks and the artists who created them, all while you sail comfortably past the dazzling light displays.

When booking your tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival, you can easily add extras, such as a snack box. The snack box includes chips, popcorn, stroopwafels, nuts, and a water or soft drink of your choice. Prefer to choose your snacks yourself? You can purchase a variety of snacks and drinks at our counter before your cruise.

Want to see even more of the light art?

If you’d like to get an even closer view of the light installations, our open boat cruise is a fantastic option. With a maximum capacity of 25 people, this intimate experience allows you to get closer to the artworks. The skipper will guide you through the experience, sharing fascinating details about the installations as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. Whether you choose the heated boat or the open boat, both options offer an unforgettable way to experience the festival.

When can you join our Amsterdam Light Festival cruises?

We offer our cruises throughout the entire festival, from November 28, 2024, to January 19, 2025. Our boats depart daily from the Blue Boat dock at Stadhouderskade 501, directly opposite the Hard Rock Café.

Want to enjoy the light installations for even longer during the holiday season? From December 23, 2024, to January 6, 2025, we extend our hours until 11:00 PM, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the winter atmosphere of the city. Please note: there will be no cruises on December 25th and 31st due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Don’t forget your camera!

Amsterdam is already a beautiful city by night, but during the Light Festival, it becomes even more magical! The illuminated bridges, canal houses, and artworks create perfect photo opportunities, so be sure to have your camera or phone ready to capture all the wonderful moments. Whether you’re visiting with friends, family, or your partner, the ambiance on the water and the stunning light art make for an unforgettable evening.

Wheelchair-accessible boats

We believe everyone should be able to enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival. That’s why our cruises are wheelchair accessible. We offer wheelchair-friendly boats during specific time slots (7:00 PM and 9:00 PM). To ensure a spot on a wheelchair-accessible boat, we recommend booking in advance. During the booking process, you can easily indicate that someone in your party uses a wheelchair, so we can make sure everything is arranged smoothly. Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact our reservations team at 020-6791370.

Book your tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival today

Don’t miss out on this unique experience! Book your tickets now through our website. After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email, and you can easily show your tickets on your phone at the dock. Don’t have a smartphone or prefer to decide last-minute? No problem, you can also purchase tickets at our ticket booth on-site, but to avoid crowds, we recommend booking in advance.

Boarding location

Our cruises depart from the Blue Boat dock at Stadhouderskade 501, directly opposite the Hard Rock Café. If you accidentally end up at our other dock near the Heineken Experience, don’t worry – it’s just a short 750-meter walk past the Rijksmuseum to the correct location.