Light Festival Amsterdam 2023/2024
November 30, 2023 @ 5:00 pm – January 21, 2024 @ 10:00 pm
Amsterdam Light Festival will be held this winter season from 30 November 2023 to 21 January 2024. In this twelfth edition, the event takes you into the world of artificial intelligence and digital technology. Come and enjoy the works of light art on, along and in the Canals of Amsterdam. Want to fully enjoy the light artworks? Then book your Light Festival canal cruise in time and enjoy a magical cruise through Amsterdam’s canals.
- Amsterdam Light Festival
- Theme 2023/2024: ‘ Artificial Intelligence’
- Light Festival Cruises
- Opening hours Light Festival Cruises
- Prices and Departure locations Light Festival cruise
- Route map of the Light Festival Amsterdam
- Light Festival Bike Tour
- Light Festival Walk Tour
- Hotel during the Light Festival Amsterdam
- Winter Festival Map
Amsterdam Light Festival
During the dark winter months, the open-air light exhibition ‘Light Festival Amsterdam‘ transforms the Amsterdam canals into a unique canvas for light art. During this twelfth season, 20 wondrous works of art can be viewed on a route along the Amsterdam canals. The light spectacle lasts 53 days and starts on Thursday 30 November 2023 and lasts until Sunday 21 January 2024.
Theme 2023/2024: ‘ Artificial Intelligence‘
In this twelfth edition, the event takes you into the world of artificial intelligence and digital technology. Be inspired by the works of light art. Are there talking lamps, virtual bridges and water flowing upwards? Go on a voyage of discovery through the Amsterdam canals.
We do not yet have all the information about Light Festival Amsterdam 2023/2024. Stay up to date with all the news about Winter Festival Amsterdam and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Light Festival Cruises
The Amsterdam Light Festival is best experienced from the canals of Amsterdam. There are several canal cruises available that follow the special Light Festival route and explain the works of light while cruising the canals (live or via an audio guide). Check out the different cruise experiences below and book the cruise that suits you best. We have divided them by tour start location.
Enjoy a comfortable cruise past the illuminated artworks of the Light Festival Amsterdam in one of the heated canal boats over Lovers Canal Cruises. The many windows give you a great view of the light artworks and Amsterdam. These tours leave directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station. Parking is available at the Q-Park Central Station.
- Learn everything about the artworks with the audio guide (English, Dutch)
- Heated boat ride
- A canal boat leaves every half hour.
- Duration: 1h 15min
- Departure directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station
- Book your cruise in advance
One of the best locations to start your Light Festival cruise is Amsterdam North. From Amsterdam Central Station, take the free ferry (F3) and cruise in 2 minutes for free to the start location of your canal cruise. Two different tours are available from this location. Parking is available at the A’dam Parking.
Light Festival Cruise with live commentary
Depart from Amsterdam-North in a brand new, 100% electric canal boat and cruise from the IJ towards the glistening Amstel River. Along the way, you will sail past the NEMO Science Museum and the fully restored Scheepvaartmuseum, past the famous Skinny Bridge and Artis Zoo.
Along the way, you will see 20 beautiful light artworks in and around Amsterdam’s canals. Your local skipper will explain the city of Amsterdam and the most impressive works of art.
| Tickets Boat cruises | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (14+) | € 26.50 | Book now |
| Child (3-13) | € 13.50 | Book now |
| Infant (0-2) | Free | Book now |
Luxury Light Festival Cruise
Enjoy the Light Festival in one of Amsterdam’s most luxurious tour boat. You will sail on the Stan Huygens! This ship belonged to beer magnate Freddy Heineken for many years. Step aboard and imagine yourself in a world of luxury. The Stan Huygens is the VIP ship of the fleet and the limousine on the water. This start location is easily reached by the free ferry from Central Station.
During the cruise, the captain will tell you all about the beautiful light artworks and the highlights of Amsterdam in Dutch and English.
- Enjoy Amsterdam’s most luxurious canal cruise
- Snacks and drinks onboard
- Learn everything about the artworks with a live guide (English, Dutch)
- These luxury cruises have a limited number of passengers
- Duration: 1h 30min
- Departure from Amsterdam North (take the free ferry F3 from Central Station)
- Book your cruise in advance
Book a luxury cruise on a traditional saloon boat. This cruise has a live guide explaining the light artworks. The boats are covered and heated. The package for unlimited drinks at boat is optional while booking your canal cruise. Parking is available at the Oosterdok Parking
- Personal host and skipper explaining the works of art (English, Dutch)
- Semi open boat ride
- Departure times: 4.45pm, 6.25pm, 8.05pm and 9.45pm
- Duration: 1h 15min
- Departure from Oosterdokskade (5 minutes walk from Central Station)
- Possibility to book unlimited drinks during the cruise.
- Book your cruise in advance
Would you like to enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival with your own group? Or would you like to book a cruise for your tour company as a tour operator? Then book a private canal Light Festival cruise past the light artworks. There are several options for groups. If your group is larger than 20 people, you can request a no-obligation quote for your unique private canal cruise for your group. For groups smaller than 20 people, we would like to ask you to book via the normal booking process.
Opening hours Light Festival Cruises
The Light Festival’s light artworks are on every day from 17:00 to 23:00. On New Year’s Eve, the light artworks will be switched off at 20.00 hours. The canal boats start between 4:30 pm – 10 pm.
| Weekday | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Thursday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Friday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Saturday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
| Sunday | 5 pm – 11 pm |
Prices and Departure locations Light Festival cruise
There are several departure locations for the Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises. You reserve a ticket for a specific departure location.
| Type cruise | Departure location | Price 12+ | Price 3-11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heated cruise Audio tour | Central Station | € 26.50 | € 13.25 | Buy tickets |
| Heated cruise Live guide | Amsterdam North | € 26.50 | € 13.25 | Buy tickets |
| Semi open cruise live guide optional unlimited drinks | Oosterdokskade | € 26.50 | € 13.25 | Buy tickets |
Route map of the Light Festival Amsterdam
The Light Festival canal cruise route runs through the eastern part of Amsterdam city centre. A canal cruise gives you the best view of the light artworks. The canal boat sails the route as indicated below. The map also shows the different starting locations of the tours.
Light Festival Bike Tour
See the works of light art in Amsterdam in the most Dutch way with the Light Festival bike tour. This 1,5 hour guided Light Festival bike tour takes you to the most beautiful locations in wintery Amsterdam. Your guide speaks Dutch and English. The tour departs at 5 pm every day during the Light Festival. The tour starts and ends at A-Bike Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 19d, Amsterdam. After the tour there will be free coffee and tea available
| Tickets | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Light Festival Bike tour | € 34.50 | Buy tickets |
Light Festival Walk Tour
You can also enjoy the works of light art from the quay. A special 6.5-kilometre walking route has been developed that takes you past the works of art. You can choose between the walking tour including or excluding an audio guide (in English or Dutch) The route map and audio guide are on sale at the Light Festival Amsterdam ticket shop.
| Ticket | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Route map | € 7.50 | Buy tickets |
| Route map + Audio Guide | € 15.00 | Buy tickets |
Hotel during the Light Festival Amsterdam
Would you like to enjoy the Light Festival Amsterdam and the other winter activities in the city? Then book a hotel in Amsterdam. The winter period is popular every year so book your hotel in time. Check the map below for current availability and prices.
Booking.comWinter Festival Map
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