Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise

During the dark winter months, Amsterdam is transformed into a beautiful city lit up with the most beautiful light artworks along the canals during the Amsterdam Light Festival.

The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place from November 30, 2023 until January 21, 2024. Would you like to see these beautiful works a little closer? Then the Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise that we offer is ideal. The open boat is smaller than a regular canal cruise boat which means that you can get closer to the artworks. Your view will be unobstructed so you can take the most beautiful pictures. During the Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise, your captain will also tell you more about the artworks.

Don’t forget your warm beanie and gloves when you book this cruise because it can get really cold at night. Of course, we also have a nice warm blanket ready for you to keep warm.

NB; some of the photos used show artworks from previous editions. This year there will be new light artworks.

The artworks of Edition #12 during the Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise

For Amsterdam Light Festival 2023-2024, artists were asked to consider the effects of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on our everyday lives. The ways in which we communicate, engage and create are all impacted by technology and AI. What is the impact on the human condition? How does society change because of this digital evolution? And where are the boundaries? The different perspectives will be highlighted during Edition 12, with the theme: LOADING… Revealing Art, AI and Tech. Book your tickets for an Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise now and discover the canal ring and its artworks at night!

A cruise in a small setting through the canals

The Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise is a 90-minute cruise in a beautiful small open boat which seats a maximum of 25 people. This creates a cozy and intimate feeling. During the cruise, the captain will tell you all about the light artworks and light installations you see in the historic canal ring.

Not sure if you’d like to be out in the open (cold)? No worries! You can also book tickets for our heated and covered Amsterdam Light Festival cruise!

Practical information about the Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise

Bad weather conditions
The weather is often quite unpredictable in the Netherlands. Of course you don’t want to be in the biggest downpour ever during an open boat cruise. In the event of extreme weather conditions, all our boat tours will be canceled. We’ll contact you and give you the option to exchange your ticket for a regular (heated and covered) cruise or to move your ticket to another date.

Departure times
Our open boats sail daily during the Light Festival period (November 30, 2023 to January 21, 2024). There are no canal cruises on Christmas Day and New Years Eve.

We recommend booking your cruise tickets in advance when planning your trip to Amsterdam, to make sure you have a spot on our cosy, small boat. The Amsterdam Light Festival boat tour is worth planning ahead a bit!

Departure location
This cruise departs from the Blue Boat dock at Stadhouderskade 501, opposite Hard Rock Cafe.

Wheelchair accessibility

Unfortunately, our open boat is not wheelchair accessible; but our regular Amsterdam Light Festival cruise is. Read more about how to book a canal cruise on a wheelchair accessible boat on that page!

Please note: we would like to request our visitors to book tickets online in advance, so that we can avoid crowds at the ticket office.