Amsterdam Light Festival Cruises: The 5 Best Sailings

1.Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

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

Spend 75 minutes viewing 20 Amsterdam Light Festival installations from a warm, fully electric canal boat. An English-speaking host explains the art, canals, and city. Choose the unlimited drinks package for beer, wine, glühwein, hot chocolate, soda, and a welcome snack. Guides have included Caitlin, Jasper, Sabrina, Timo, and Eliza.

“A very nice boat trip in Amsterdam. The weather was not perfect, but the guide was very good. I can recommend it.”

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2.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks & Snacks

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

Spend 75 minutes on a heated, covered saloon boat viewing Amsterdam’s Light Festival from the canals. Your English-speaking captain and guide share stories about the artworks, bridges, buildings, and canal districts. Drinks are included with selected options, while the snack box is optional. Meet near Central Station by the Victoria Hotel.

“Memorable and fun! Our guide Bobby Brown was very entertaining, incorporating appropriately selected songs for each light exhibit as we sailed through the picturesque canal and Amsterdam night scenery.”

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3.Light Festival Heated Cruise w/ Drinks & Snacks

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

Board near Victoria Hotel for a 75-minute English canal cruise past more than 20 Amsterdam Light Festival installations. You’ll ride in a classic heated saloon boat, hear about the art and city, and enjoy beer, wine, mulled wine, soft drinks, and snacks when included. Crew members such as Tom, Sophia, Kevin, Roos, and Captain Jacqueline have been praised for warm, lively hosting.

“We had a really amazing tour and service with Kevin and Roos! Thank you so much, you guys, for the great experience!”

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4.Amsterdam Light Festival Live Commentary & Optional Drinks

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

Board a covered, heated electric boat near Amsterdam Central Station for a 90-minute Light Festival cruise. Your captain, including the warmly praised Han, explains the artworks in English and Dutch. An audio guide, multilingual brochure, drinks, and stroopwafels are available onboard.

“loved the art work as we went round the canals. lovely way to see more of amsterdam”

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5.Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Workshop

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

Join a small English-language group for a two-hour winter walk from Dam Square past the Royal Palace, canals, Flower Market, Begijnhof, Jordaan, and Light Festival displays. The tour ends with a stroopwafel workshop, tasting, hot chocolate, and a winter hat. Groups are capped at 15 people.

“This was an enjoyable tour where we learned a lot of information from a native tour guide! The history of the city was interesting and the architecture of the buildings was beautiful. We got to make homemade stoopwafles which were yummy!”

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