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
- Private Group cruise
- 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, 24 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.
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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 light artworks with the audio guide (English, Dutch)
- Heated boat ride
- Departure times: A canal boat leaves every 15 minutes
- Duration: 1h 15min
- Departure directly in front of Amsterdam 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, and during the cruise you will enjoy unlimited mulled wine, beer, wine or soda. Parking is available at the Oosterdok Parking
- Personal host and skipper explaining the works of art (English, Dutch)
- Unlimited mulled wine, beer, wine and fresh drinks
- 75-minute canal cruise on an electric boat
- Departure times: 4.45pm, 6.25pm, 7.45pm and 9.15pm
- Duration: 1h 15min
- Departure from Oosterdokskade (5 minutes walk from Central Station)
- Book your cruise in advance
Make the most of the stunning light artworks from an open boat. You will cruise through Amsterdam’s canals in an electric open boat with a small group. From the open boat, you will have the perfect view of the artworks and take the most beautiful photos. The live guide on board will tell you all about the artworks. These tours leave from Damrak directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station. Parking is available at the Q-Park Central Station or Q-Park de Bijenkorf
- Personal host and skipper explaining the works of art (English, Dutch)
- Make the most of the light works of art with an open boat cruise
- There are blankets on board to keep you warm
- If it rains, you can opt for a covered and heated boat
- 75-minute canal cruise on an electric open boat
- Departure times: A canal boat leaves every 15 minutes
- Duration: 1h 15min
- Departure from Damrak (5 minutes walk from 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 24 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.
Private Group cruise
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. The canal boats start between 4:30 pm – 10 pm. During the Christmas holidays (23 December to 7 January), the lights are on every day from 5 pm to 11 pm. On New Year’s Eve, the light artworks will be switched off.
| Weekday | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5 pm – 10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 pm – 10 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 pm – 10 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 |
| Luxury cruise live guide unlimited drinks | Oosterdokskade | from € 26.50 | € 13.50 | Buy tickets |
| Luxury cruise live guide including a drink | Amsterdam North | € 44.50 | € 22.50 | Buy tickets |
| Open boat tour live guide | Damrak | € 26.50 | € 25.00 | Buy tickets |
Route map of the Light Festival Amsterdam
The Light Festival canal cruise route runs largely along the Herengracht in the centre of Amsterdam. A canal cruise gives you the best view of the light artworks. The canal boat sails past the light artworks. The map also shows the various starting locations of the canal cruises.
Light Festival Bike Tour
See the works of light art in Amsterdam in the most Dutch way with the Light Festival bike tour. This 2 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 4.45 pm every day during the Light Festival. The tour starts and ends at Yellow Bike Nieuwezijds Kolk 29, Amsterdam.
| Tickets | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Light Festival Bike tour | € 35.00 | Buy tickets |
Light Festival Walk Tour
You can also enjoy the works of light art from the quay. A special 7.5-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.
| Ticket | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Route map | € 7.99 | 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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