Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/27 Private Boat Tour
Experience the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/27 aboard your own private, heated saloon boat. Cruise the festival's new light-art route for approximately 90 minutes with a local guide, clear double-pane windows and a non-alcoholic welcome drink included.
Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/27 at a Glance
- Edition
- 15
- Dates
- 26 November 2026 – 17 January 2027
- Location
- Amsterdam canals
- Route
- Brand-new route for Edition 15
- Experience
- Light artworks by local & international artists
- Ways to visit
- Boat, walking route & other festival experiences
- Boatboys private cruise
- Approx. 90 minutes
- Official festival ticket sales
- Usually from February, after each edition
See the Light Festival Cruise From On Board
When Is Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/27?
Amsterdam Light Festival Edition 15 takes place from Thursday, 26 November 2026 through Sunday, 17 January 2027, with a brand-new route along the Magere Brug and the Amstelsluizen.
Official artwork viewing times
- 26 November – 4 January: Sunday to Tuesday 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday to Saturday 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM
- 5 January – 17 January: Sunday to Tuesday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Wednesday to Saturday 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- 19 December – 3 January: on every day until 11:00 PM
- 31 December: until 9:00 PM
About Amsterdam Light Festival Edition 15
For its fifteenth edition, Amsterdam once again becomes a stage for light art. Local, national and international artists have been invited to share their own perspective on the city, there is no fixed theme this edition, instead a dialogue with the city unfolds through a multitude of perspectives.
Alongside 20 unique light artworks and a brand-new route along the Magere Brug and the Amstelsluizen, the festival is developing free events and side programming. This year there is an extra focus on the city as a stage, an invitation to rediscover Amsterdam by boat, on foot and with an open mind.
Light artworks in the central-east district
Cruise route, running counterclockwise this edition
Walking route for those exploring on foot
Artworks of Edition 15
A first look at four of the twenty light artworks on this edition's route, shown as artist impressions.
Images provided by Amsterdam Light Festival for Official Partners. Artwork locations are not shown.
Why See Amsterdam Light Festival by Boat?
Many Amsterdam Light Festival artworks are created specifically for spaces around the canals, including installations positioned on, beside or above the water. A private boat tour lets you move through the route while staying seated inside a heated boat, viewing every installation from water level.
Going private also means you won't share the cabin with strangers, just your own group, your own pace, and more room to enjoy the art and commentary.
Private Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tour
Perfect for private groups focused purely on the artworks and the festival atmosphere.
90-Minute Private Cruise
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Additional guests: €15 p.p.
- Included: Non-alcoholic welcome drink and VAT (festival ticket fee excluded)
- Boat: Heated private saloon boat
- Guide: Live commentary on Amsterdam and the artworks
Pricing is being reconfirmed for the 2026/27 edition, please verify at the time of booking.
Book Your Private Light Festival CruiseAmsterdam Light Festival Route 2026/27
Edition 15 will follow a brand-new Amsterdam Light Festival route through the city. The artworks will be installed in, above and alongside Amsterdam's waterways, making a canal cruise one of the most natural ways to experience them.
The full public route map and individual artwork locations haven't been released yet. Once published, this section will be updated with the route map, key waterways and major artwork locations.
Clear Winter Views Through Double-Pane Windows
Winter boat cruises can suffer from condensation when warm air inside meets cold windows outside. Boatboys' saloon boats use double-pane windows designed to give clearer views of the light installations while keeping the cabin warm.
That matters most during Amsterdam Light Festival, where seeing and photographing the artworks clearly is the whole point of the cruise.
Private vs Shared Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise
| Experience | Boatboys Private Cruise | Typical Shared Cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Boat | Reserved for your group | Shared with other passengers |
| Duration | Around 90 minutes | Often around 75 minutes |
| Cabin | Heated luxury saloon boat | Varies |
| Windows | Double-pane glass, no foggy windows | Plastic windows, often a foggy view |
| Guide | Live guide | Live guide or audio |
| Drinks | Welcome drink included | Depends on ticket |
| Dinner | Available as upgrade | Usually separate |
| Experience | Private and customizable | Fixed itinerary |
Several current 2026/27 commercial festival listings advertise 75-minute shared cruises. Travelers primarily looking for a low-cost individual ticket may prefer one of Amsterdam's shared festival cruises, while Boatboys focuses on private group experiences.
Amsterdam Light Festival Dinner Cruise
Turn your Light Festival cruise into a private dinner experience by combining the illuminated route with food served on board. Boatboys can arrange multi-course dining from selected Amsterdam restaurants, with brief stops along the route to collect each course while you remain aboard the boat.
2-Course Dinner Cruise
- Duration: From 2.5 hours
- Food: Approximately €45 p.p.
- Included: Non-alcoholic welcome drink and VAT (festival ticket fee excluded)
3-Course Dinner Cruise
- Duration: From 3 hours
- Food: Approximately €60 p.p.
- Included: Non-alcoholic welcome drink and VAT (festival ticket fee excluded)
Verify current pricing for Edition 15 when booking.
Dinner Options Along the Festival Route
Depending on the final festival route and availability, dinner can be arranged with selected Amsterdam restaurants such as Johannes, RED, NIM and Omber. Options range from casual dining to multi-course menus, and vegetarian, vegan and allergy-related requirements can be discussed before booking.
Menus and logistics change between seasons, confirm current restaurant choices when reserving your cruise. Planning a longer evening? See our private dinner cruise options, or compare all private boat tours and prices.
Add Wine or Champagne
Additional wine, beer, soft drinks and Champagne can be ordered separately from the onboard selection. Celebrating an anniversary, birthday, company event or proposal? Champagne can also be arranged in advance.
Where Does the Light Festival Boat Tour Depart?
Boatboys Light Festival cruises currently depart from Oosterdokskade 8, near Amsterdam Central Station, a 5-minute walk from the station. Please confirm your final departure location in your booking confirmation, as festival routes and departure arrangements can change between editions.
- ✓Heated and covered boats for optimal comfort
- ✓Double-pane windows for clearer views
- ✓Welcome drink at the start of the tour
- ✓Upgrade option to a Light Festival Dinner Cruise
- ✓Private classic and luxury saloon boats
- ✓Local skippers with knowledge of the city and installations
Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam Light Festival
Amsterdam Light Festival Edition 15 runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027.
The upcoming edition marks the festival's 15th anniversary and will feature a brand-new route through Amsterdam along with additional programming.
Edition 15 will use a brand-new route. The detailed public route and artwork locations haven't been fully published yet, check the official festival information closer to the opening date.
The current Boatboys private Light Festival cruise lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Boatboys' current page lists its 90-minute private cruise from €360 for up to four guests, with an additional per-person charge for larger groups. Confirm Edition 15 pricing when booking.
Yes. Boatboys advertises heated private saloon boats for its Light Festival cruises.
Yes. Boatboys currently offers 2-course and 3-course private Light Festival dinner options with longer cruise durations.
The current Boatboys page lists Oosterdokskade 8, near Amsterdam Central Station, as its Light Festival departure location. Confirm the pickup point on your final booking.
The light art itself can be viewed publicly, while guided cruise and walking experiences require tickets. The official festival describes the artworks as freely accessible, with paid experiences for visitors who want additional context.
Tickets for the festival’s own cruise and walking experiences usually go on sale shortly after each edition ends, typically from February, so tickets for the following winter are available almost a year ahead. Check the official festival site for the exact release date.
Don't Miss Light Festival 2026/27 on the Water
Historic saloon boats, expert local guides, and a heated private cabin with clear views of every installation.