See Amsterdam Light Festival the way it was designed to be seen: from the water, gliding past the light artworks along the historic canals, with a boat all to yourselves. A private cruise gives you a heated, covered boat, a local captain who knows the festival route, and drinks and snacks on board, so you take in the light artworks at your own pace rather than squeezing onto a busy public boat. We work with two of Amsterdam’s best small boat companies, Pure Boats and Smidtje, both official partners of the festival. If you would rather pay per person and share with a small group, a shared Light Festival cruise is also available.
Private Amsterdam Light Festival cruises sail from 5pm-10pm, and can vary in duration from 2 to 3 hours. During this time, you have the entire boat to yourself, and you will be able to get up close to the artworks. Your guide is your captain, who will attend to all of your needs. An open bar and snack options can be included. Private cruises start from €508 for the whole boat, not per person.
A private cruise means the whole boat is yours for the evening. Cruises sail between 5pm and 10pm and last from 2 to 3 hours, depending on how much of the evening you would like to spend on the water.
– A local captain who knows the festival route and looks after you on board
– A heated, covered boat, including fully electric boats from Pure Boats
– Mulled wine, craft beers, fine wines and Dutch snacks, with an open bar available
– Pick-up from other places in the city, as a bespoke extra
Celebrating something special? Let us know, and we can arrange extras such as champagne, flowers or a candlelit dinner.
Drinks are included on every private cruise. You can add homemade mulled wine, champagne, a Dutch cheese and charcuterie board, or warm bites from a local caterer. If you would like a full dinner on board, we arrange it with one of our partner restaurants, so just let us know when you book.
The 15th edition of Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 until 17 January 2027, on a brand new route through the eastern canals. It is a loop, so a boat can sail all of it and bring you back where you started: from the Amstel by the Magere Brug into the Nieuwe Prinsengracht and the Plantage Muidergracht, back along the Nieuwe Keizersgracht and the Nieuwe Herengracht, up through the Schippersgracht into the Oosterdok, then down the Oudeschans and the Zwanenburgwal, past the Groenburgwal, to rejoin the Amstel.
The festival puts the full route at roughly 75 minutes by boat, or 4.5 kilometres on foot. Our private cruises run from 90 minutes to 3 hours, so there is time to sail the whole loop without rushing and go back for a second look at the artworks you liked best. The open water of the Oosterdok gives the larger works room to be seen from a distance, and the Groenburgwal is narrow enough for the light to come off both canal walls at once.
The lights are on every day from 4.30pm until 11pm, and private cruises sail between 5pm and 10pm. There are festival information points at Inside Amstel 1 and near Central Station, open Thursday to Sunday from 4.30pm to 9pm, and every day between 19 December and 3 January. The organisers ask visitors to arrive by public transport or bicycle.
For the artworks, the story of the festival and tips for walking the route, read our Amsterdam Light Festival 2026 guide. Tickets and official information are on the Amsterdam Light Festival website.
Yes. Amsterdam Light Festival is the official name, and you will also see it called the Amsterdam Festival of Lights or simply the festival of lights. It is the same winter event, running from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027.
Private cruises sail between 5pm and 10pm and last two hours as standard, with three hours available on request, so you choose how much of the evening you spend on the water.
Yes. The fully electric Pure Boats fleet is covered, or partly covered, and heated, and the Smidtje saloon boats are enclosed, so you stay warm whatever the December weather does.
Private cruises take from 6 to 24 guests on the Pure Boats fleet, and Smidtje has larger saloon boats for up to 65, so there is a boat for couples, families and company groups.
Drinks are included on every private cruise. You can add homemade snacks, a cheese or charcuterie board, or a full dinner on the larger boats. Just tell us what you would like.
Yes. A private boat has no age limit, so it is the most comfortable choice for families with young children.
The cruise runs in almost all weather, as the boats are covered and heated. You will only be contacted if conditions ever make sailing unsafe.
Pure Boats pick you up and drop you off at a centrally located dock, unless you request otherwise. Smidtje departure points are arranged when you book.
On a private boat you have a say in the route. You can see all the artworks on the official Amsterdam Light Festival route, and also venture onto the quieter canals that the public boats never reach.
Private cruises start from €508 for the whole boat on Pure Boats, with Smidtje priced on request depending on the boat and group size. You pay per boat, not per person.
Private boats for the Light Festival sell out early, especially on December weekends, so book as far ahead as you can to secure your preferred date and time.
Yes. If you would rather not book a whole boat, a shared, per-person Amsterdam Light Festival cruise is also available.
If you would rather cruise for a different length of time, an alternative time of day, or perhaps you have a specific request for a special event or celebration? Just let us know and we will arrange things for you.
How about a local pickup/drop off, a candlelit dinner, or maybe a specific route taking in a favourite location? It’s the little extras that can turn a private boat cruise into a magical Amsterdam experience.
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