Cruise the Amsterdam Light Festival with HopOnHopOff Holland

The Amsterdam Light Festival is a dazzling annual event that transforms the city’s canals into a glowing art exhibition. This year, you can immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere from the warmth and comfort of a fully heated electric canal boat with a HopOnHopOff Holland-certified cruise, and you can get 20% off your ticket with the code ALF24.

Take a cruise through the Amsterdam Light Festival

From the unbeatable vantage point of the historic Amsterdam canals, you can witness 27 unique light artworks from international artists, each illuminating Amsterdam’s centre in spectacular fashion. This 90-minute cruise offers a curated route through the city centre, providing unparalleled views of illuminated historic buildings, bridges, and contemporary art installations.

Enhanced by live commentary from your local skipper in both Dutch and English, and supplemented with an informative brochure in different languages, this tour unravels the stories behind both the impressive artworks and the city’s iconic sites like Nemo and the Maritime Museum. As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival, this cruise promises a uniquely magical experience, celebrating art, light, and Amsterdam’s winter charm.

Amsterdam Light Festival Edition 13: Rituals

The theme of Edition 13 of the Amsterdam Light Festival is Rituals. Rituals and light have been connected for centuries, with light playing a crucial role as a vibrant symbol of joy, energy and life. People use fireworks to ring in the new year, candles to commemorate and remember, and midsummer fires to celebrate the solstice. Light adds something mystical and sacred to a ritual like no other element can.

For the Amsterdam Light Festival 2024, artists were asked to represent and reflect on rituals that are meaningful to Amsterdam's diverse community. This edition aims to connect, move or inspire viewers with light art that reflects many aspects of rituals, such as rhythm, repetition, performativity, symbolism, continuity and memory.

Book your cruise tickets now to ensure you don't miss out on this artistic extravaganza.

Your cruising route

Your journey into the heart of the Amsterdam Light Festival begins at the Overhoeksplein, directly next to the A’dam Tower (the tower with the swings on the roof), where a welcoming host escorts you onto a modern, eco-friendly electric boat, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Wrapped in the warmth of the boat’s heated interior, you embark after dark has fallen, ready to embrace the illuminated spectacle.

As the cruise advances through the waters of the IJ river and towards the Amstel, each turn and twist of the canal reveals a new piece of awe-inspiring light art. Your attentive local skipper provides enriching live commentary, shedding light on the backstories of the installations and the centuries-old cityscapes that serve as their backdrop.

Passing by historical landmarks like the Skinny Bridge and the Maritime Museum, the carefully chosen route ensures no highlight is missed. Not only do these sights host the festival’s artwork, but they are also beautifully lit against the winter night, offering a unique view of Amsterdam’s rich heritage and architectural beauty.

With drinks available to buy on board, you can toast to an evening of culture, history, and artistic ingenuity as Amsterdam’s waterways and skyline shine in luminous celebration. As an official partner of the festival, this cruise not only promises a spectacular viewing experience but also supports the continued success and preservation of this cherished city tradition.

What's included with your cruise ticket

From November 28, 2024, to January 19, 2025, you can witness the city as it is transformed into an open-air light art museum. This HopOnHopOff Holland-certified cruise promises a uniquely magical experience, celebrating art, light, and Amsterdam’s winter charm. Your ticket includes:

• A 90-minute Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise.
• A live commentary from a local skipper in Dutch and English.
• An informative brochure on each of the festival's 27 light artworks in different languages.
• A seat on an eco-friendly, 100% electric, heated covered boat.
• A route that covers all the major festival artworks and city landmarks.

When you can cruise

With departures every day from November 28 to January 19 (except for December 25, December 3 and January 1), it's easy to brighten your winter with the Amsterdam Light Festival. There are eight departure times every day, from just after sunset at 4.45pm until the late-evening slot at 9pm, so you can choose the one that best suits you.

Book your ticket now

With no hidden costs or booking fees, this official partnership cruise offers an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate the festival’s splendour while supporting its future.

Make sure you secure your spot on this exclusive tour now as capacity is limited. Use the code ALF24 to get an incredible 20% discount on your ticket!