The 15 Best Light Festival Cruises in Amsterdam

1.Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,570 reviews Our pick

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival by electric boat with blankets, live stories, and optional unlimited drinks on a 75-minute canal ride.

“The just trip was brilliant! Caitlin and Jasper made the trip so much more enjoyable! Caitlin was so knowledgeable and gave us a real insight into the local art and rituals they were based upon! Jasper was knowledgable too and gave us some facts etc too while also keeping the mood with a few jokes. Drinks and snacks were great, and they never stopped flowing. Overall this was a great experience and one I’d definitely repeat! Thank you Caitlin and jasper”

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2.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 1,452 reviews · from $31

Stay warm on a 75-minute Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise with drinks, snacks, illuminated art, bridges, and live English commentary.

“We enjoyed a tour with the family. It was great to see all the different light sculptures from the water. The staff was very friendly and the boat very convenient. Would recommend this to everyone.”

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3.Light Festival Heated Cruise w/ Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 727 reviews · from $31

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival in a heated classic boat with canal views, live commentary, mulled wine, beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks.

“The host was absolutely amazing. His knowledge, enthusiasm and humor made it a truly beautiful experience. Drinks were flowing and the atmosphere was amazing”

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4.Amsterdam Light Festival Live Commentary & Optional Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 410 reviews · from $31

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival in a heated electric boat, hear live commentary, and see illuminated canals, bridges, and 20 or more artworks.

“It was really nice! We liked the light Festival and our Guide a lot :)”

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5.Light Festival Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival by night with canal views, warm drinks, city stories, and a small boat setting. Learn what to expect.

“Had a great evening cruise to see the lights. Our captain was Luc (I think) and forget our hosts name. It was 5pm on 1/12 if that helps determine who it was for the company. I did a canal cruise years ago. Learned a lot more on this cruise. The host did a great job sharing information about the city and the lights. She kept everyone engaged and tried to share facts that interested all ages. While doing that she also made sure everyone had full drinks the entire time. Really enjoyed this cruise. Thought I was doing it only for the lights, and learned a lot of new information…”

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6.Amsterdam Light Festival: Heated Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Best value

Review of Amsterdam’s heated Light Festival canal cruise, with route details, drinks, snacks, value advice, and practical tips before booking.

“The All-Inclusive Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise offers excellent service, a selection of beer and wine, and a fun atmosphere. It’s a delightful way to experience stunning light art installations along the historic canals. Highly recommended for an enjoyable and unique evening.”

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7.Amsterdam Light Festival: Saloon Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 147 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Review of Amsterdam Light Festival's 75-minute saloon boat cruise, with canal views, live commentary, hot drinks, snacks, and practical booking advice.

“I was surprised at how old the buildings along the canals were because they are in such good shape! Amsterdam truly.cares about preserving their history.”

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8.Amsterdam Light Festival: Heated Cruise with Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 144 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Review of Amsterdam’s heated Light Festival cruise, with canal views, live guides, hot drinks, snacks, pricing, comfort, and booking tips.

“This experience is extremely misleading in how it is sold: - “just nine people makes for a small, intimate group” - there were over 60 people on the boat - 1:15 length - it was over 1:45 - unlimited drinks and snacks. The snacks were extremely limited It was also extremely chaotic trying to queue and find the right boat. I do not recommend this experience. The hosts were great, despite having to shout as the microphone was broken.”

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9.Amsterdam Light Festival: Canal Cruise + Snack & Unlimited Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival aboard a covered boat with live commentary, canal views, snacks, and optional unlimited drinks.

“The tour guide was in experienced and didn’t really know what to say to each art piece. I don’t think we saw half of the art pieces as there was over 20 and we may have seen maybe 10 at most. It felt very cheap and would benefit from better service focus. I would try find a better company next time.”

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10.Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Top rated

Walk Amsterdam’s canals, Jewish Quarter, Light Festival installations, and make a fresh stroopwafel on this small-group winter tour.

“The tour stated "meet in Dam square". There were several thousand people protesting in Dam square that day, the tour group was nowhere to be found. I never heard from them.”

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11.Light Festival Cruise With Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 62 reviews · from $31

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival canals for 75 minutes with illuminated art, covered seating, and optional unlimited drinks and snacks.

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12.Light Festival Heated Cruise & Unlimited Drinks!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · 1h 15m · from $49

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival in a heated electric boat with unlimited drinks, blankets, canal views, and live stories for 75 minutes.

“really nice skipper, and the heating was a good help!”

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13.Light Festival Boat Tour with Warm Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 34 reviews · from $31

Cruise Amsterdam’s winter canals by open boat, viewing Light Festival art with blankets, tea, and live stories about the theme Rituals.

“Very nice boat tour! our Skipper was friendly, he gave us a lot of information about the city as well as about the light festival. Free thee onboard and Mulled wine for 3€. Would reccomend!”

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14.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $31

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals under glowing art on a heated boat, with optional unlimited mulled wine, beer, sodas, and snacks.

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15.Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival by heated canal boat, with English commentary, flexible evening departures, and an unlimited drinks option on 31 December.

“Disappointed in the Light Festival Canal tour. The light displayed were not holiday oriented and very spread out. When we got to the location we were told to get on a specific boat. It was not fully enclosed as the picture shows. There ended up only being 3 of us on the boat. It appeared KIN had other boats,with more people, so not sure why we were put on this one. I will say our Captain/Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and did a good job.”

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