Amsterdam Light Festival Kids Cruise

Visiting Amsterdam Light Festival with children? On our special Kids Cruise, a trip through the festival becomes an adventure for the whole family. You will cruise past the 20 light artworks of Edition 15 while the children listen to a special story inspired by what they see along the way.

The fun starts before you even step on board. At the ticket office, children can pick a sweet from the lucky dip before finding a seat on the boat. Once on board, they will be served a soft drink and your journey through Amsterdam Light Festival can begin. The Kids Cruise departs every day during the festival at 5:00 pm.

An Amsterdam Light Festival adventure for children

A canal cruise past light art is already a special experience, but on this cruise there is an extra story especially for children. As the boat makes its way through the canals and new artworks appear outside, they can listen to a story created especially for Amsterdam Light Festival.

It makes discovering the art even more fun. The children are drawn into the story while Amsterdam slowly gets darker outside and the light artworks appear one by one along the route.

Pick a sweet, then set sail

For children, the Kids Cruise starts on the quayside. Before boarding, they can choose a sweet from the lucky dip at the ticket office at Stadhouderskade 550. Then you will all step on board together.

A soft drink will be waiting for the children, and after that you have around 90 minutes to experience Amsterdam Light Festival from the water. It is a fun extra for the kids and, above all, an enjoyable way to discover the festival together as a family.

Discover 20 light artworks together

During Edition 15, 20 light artworks by local, national and international artists can be seen along the new route. This edition has no single theme. Instead, every artist shares their own view of Amsterdam and offers a different perspective on the city.

That means there is always something new to discover along the way. Look outside together, choose your favourite artwork and experience Amsterdam in a completely different way.

Practical information about the Kids Cruise

Amsterdam Light Festival takes place from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. The 20 light artworks can be seen daily from 4:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

The Amsterdam Light Festival Kids Cruise departs every day at 5:00 pm from the dock at Stadhouderskade 550, opposite the Heineken Experience. The cruise lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The special story for children is available in Dutch and English. The Kids Cruise is also wheelchair accessible. Please let us know when booking if someone in your group will be using a wheelchair, so we can make the necessary arrangements in advance.

Discover Amsterdam with children

Has Amsterdam Light Festival finished, or would you like to see more of the city? On our regular Kids Cruise, children can also discover Amsterdam from the canals. You can also board our City Canal Cruise with the whole family. Prefer to see Amsterdam as the city slowly lights up after dark? Then choose our Evening Cruise.

Book the Amsterdam Light Festival Kids Cruise

A sweet from the lucky dip, a soft drink on board, a special story for the children and 20 light artworks along the route. The Amsterdam Light Festival Kids Cruise turns a winter evening in Amsterdam into a fun family outing.

The Kids Cruise departs every day at 5:00 pm. Book your tickets in advance and experience Edition 15 of Amsterdam Light Festival together.