Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise & Drinks

Electric Boat Through Amsterdam's Glowing Canals at Night

You board an open electric boat at your chosen time between 5-10pm and cruise Amsterdam's official Light Festival route with a local skipper providing live commentary. The boat glides past illuminated artworks, bridges, and the National Maritime Museum while you stand in the fresh night air and watch reflections double in the water. Add unlimited drinks if you want wine or beer included throughout the journey, then return to the dock after roughly two hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise

• Board open electric boat
• Sail through illuminated canals
• View light artworks on bridges and façades
• Pass National Maritime Museum
• Enjoy local skipper's insights
• Experience magical reflections by night

The experience

A skipper cuts the engine back and points toward a bridge wrapped in soft blue light, the reflection doubling itself in the black water below. That's you on an open electric boat during the Amsterdam Light Festival, moving slowly through canals transformed by artists from around the world. The boat leaves between 5 and 10pm depending on what you book: early enough to catch the first installations sharp and clear, late enough that the city's regular lights have already dimmed. Your local guide narrates as you pass the National Maritime Museum and the official festival route, explaining what each piece is meant to say. The theme this year is "Legacy" (what we leave behind, in stories and culture and the work of artists), and it's woven into every installation you'll see reflected in the water.

The boat itself is electric, so there's no engine noise, just the sound of water and the occasional comment from your skipper about what's coming next. You're standing or sitting on an open deck, which means the winter air hits you straight on (bring a coat, honestly), but that's also what makes it feel real. The cozy part comes from being packed in with other people who showed up for the same reason, and from the fact that everything around you is glowing. If you add the unlimited drinks option, you've got wine or beer or soft drinks flowing the whole time, which turns the two hours into something closer to a slow evening than a tour you're checking off a list.

The Amsterdam Light Festival runs through winter, and this boat experience is the official way to see it without walking the same bridges twice or trying to figure out which canal goes where. Your guide handles the route and the timing, so you just stand there and watch the city remake itself in light. Groups stay small enough that you're not packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and the boat takes infants in prams or strollers if you're traveling with young kids. If you've got a service animal, they're welcome too. The whole thing runs about two hours, and you can choose your departure time at booking.

What’s included

• Your cruise includes a local skipper and live commentary on board as you sail past multiple points of interest including the National Maritime Museum and the official Light Festival route.
• If you choose the unlimited drinks option, wine, beer, and soft drinks are provided throughout the two-hour journey.
• You select your departure time between 5pm and 10pm at the time of booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Covered cruise with a choice of Glühwein or tea, plus a stroopwafelGuide in English or Dutch · Available from 26 Nov · 9 departure times: the first at 17:00, the last at 21:00Covered electric boat with Glühwein or tea and a stroopwafel

Covered cruise with unlimited drinks and a stroopwafelGuide in English or Dutch · Available from 26 Nov · 9 departure times: the first at 17:00, the last at 21:00Covered electric boat with unlimited drinks and a stroopwafel

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 17:00, the last at 21:00Last departure this season: 19 Jan 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by KINboat

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Light Festival's main installations without navigating Amsterdam's canal system yourself. The skipper handles the route and timing, and the boat's slow pace lets you absorb each artwork without rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What time does the Amsterdam Light Festival boat depart?

Departures run between 5pm and 10pm. You choose your preferred time at booking.

How long is the canal cruise?

The tour lasts approximately two hours on the water.

Is the boat covered or open?

It's an open electric boat, so you're exposed to the winter air. Bring warm clothing.

What's included in the unlimited drinks option?

Wine, beer, and soft drinks are available throughout the cruise if you select that add-on at booking.

Is there a guide on the boat?

Yes, a local skipper guides the boat and provides live commentary on the installations and the festival theme.

What is the Amsterdam Light Festival theme this year?

Edition 14 is themed "Legacy," exploring what we leave behind through stories, culture, and creativity.

Can service animals come on the boat?

Yes, service animals are allowed on board.