Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise

4,3/5 5.000+ reviews
4 3.000+ reviews

Special offer

€ 29,75 € 25,50
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW

Free cancellation - Up to 24 hours in advance

  • 90 minutes
  • Stadhouderskade 550
  • Live guide
Instant confirmation
You will immediately receive your vouchers in your e-mail
Mobile ticketing
Validate your ticket with your phone. No need to print your vouchers
Live guide
Dutch and English
Departure location
Stadhouderskade 550 (opposite Heineken Experience)
Back in November

About the Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise

In the winter months, the Amsterdam canals turn into an enchanting open-air museum. During the Amsterdam Light Festival, you experience the light artworks as they were meant to be seen: from the water, aboard an open boat. The city you thought you knew reveals an entirely different side of itself.

Questions?

Contact Willeke

Call us: +31 20 679 1370 Or send us an email

From booking to boarding in just 3 easy steps

  • Receive your tickets directly in your inbox

  • Have your tickets scanned at the departure point

  • Step aboard, relax and enjoy Amsterdam

Book now

Everything about this cruise

Below you will find everything you need to know before you book, from what is included to practical tips for along the way.

What can you expect from the Amsterdam Light Festival open boat cruise?

During the open boat Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, you sail for 90 minutes with a small group through the heart of Amsterdam. The light artworks are positioned along the route and are created specially for the fourteenth edition of the festival. This year’s overarching theme is Legacy: about what we leave behind, what we carry forward and how we want to be remembered. The skipper tells you all about the artworks, their makers and the thinking behind them along the way. Because you sail so close to the installations, you notice details that are often missed from the shore. No need to worry about the cold: we have warm blankets on board, so you stay comfortable even on chilly winter evenings.

Why choose an open boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival?

The open boat gives you a festival experience you will not find anywhere else. Rather than sitting behind glass, you feel the fresh air, hear the sounds of the city and sail so close to the artworks that you can almost touch them. The small group size creates a personal atmosphere, and thanks to the skipper’s commentary you learn more, in an accessible way, about the art and this year’s theme: Legacy. A unique trip that genuinely moves you.

What are the practical details of the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?

The cruise lasts around 90 minutes and runs daily from 27 November 2025 up to and including 18 January 2026, between 5.00 pm and 9.00 pm. The departure point is the Blue Boat jetty at Stadhouderskade 550, opposite the Heineken Experience. In extremely poor weather, the cruise may be cancelled. We will then get in touch with you to arrange an alternative.

Is the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, the open boat is not accessible for wheelchairs. For a comfortable and accessible option, you can choose our covered cruise.

Where can I buy tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise?

Tickets can be booked online via the Blue Boat website, with nothing to print. Show your e-ticket as you board and enjoy an evening full of light, art and wonder. Have a question? Get in touch on +31 (0)20 679 1370 or send an email to info@blueboat.nl.

Which other cruises does Blue Boat offer?

Alongside the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, Blue Boat Company offers a range of cruises, including the Evening Cruise, the Blue Sky Boat (an open boat for sunny days) and the Kids Cruise, where children set off on an adventure with Sjonnie the Mouse. Which cruise suits your visit to Amsterdam?

Our other cruises

Want to experience even more of Amsterdam from the water? Take a look at our other cruises and find the one that suits you.
Discover all our canal cruises

What our guests say about Blue Boat Company

We enjoyed the canal cruises once during the day and once in the evening, including beautiful lighting! The whole team was very courteous, the distance regulations were observed and there was interesting information to be heard on the trips themselves 🙂 We would recommend the “Blue Boat Company” to everyone and choose them again as a canal cruise operator the next time we visit!

D. Gerke
Google

The evening canal cruise was beautiful and the sailor did his job excellently. It’s a tour I’ll remember my whole life. Thank you Blue Boat Amsterdam 🙂

266yanab
Google
Great customer service from the ticket office staff and great tour with info on sights as you go via free earphones (multi-languages). Plus you can stand out at the back of the boat for photos. Nice and steady piloting through the canals. Great for adults & children (kids get an activity pack). Highly recommend.
anthonyjD3187SI
Google
Amsterdam is a magical place and this is a great way to see it. The food was good, the drinks were plentiful, and this served as a treat for my wife and I after a long day off exploring on foot.
travelerjohn4611
Google
1 from 4