For the 12th time, the Amsterdam Light Festival 2023 will add a magical touch to our city this winter. Between November 30th, 2023, and January 21st, 2024, you’ll find numerous light art installations in and around the city centre of Amsterdam. During the 12th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival, these light artworks will immerse you in the world of AI and its applications in art. This year, the overarching theme of the Amsterdam Light Festival is ‘LOADING… Revealing Art, AI, and Tech.’ What’s even more exciting this year is the Festival Hub in the Hoftuin, where you can also drink something 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
walking routes during Amsterdam Light Festival 2023/2024
The light artworks will illuminate every evening starting at 5 PM and continue until 10 or 11 PM, brightening up the city. The walking map for the Amsterdam Light Festival is back this year, featuring a walking route of approximately 7.5 kilometres. By purchasing a digital route for €7.50, you are supporting the light artworks.
Canal Cruises during Amsterdam Light Festival 2023/2024
Let’s be honest… experiencing the Amsterdam Light Festival from the water is truly the most beautiful way to enjoy it! This year, there are several wonderful canal cruises and boat tours available, lasting approximately 60-75 minutes. It’s a great activity with friends, family, kids, a date, or your loved one! And as always: book in advance, as the best time slots tend to fill up quickly. There are various providers for canal cruises this year, so it’s useful to check all the websites if you have a specific date or time in mind.
Here are the websites where you can purchase tickets for canal cruises and boat tours during the Amsterdam Light Festival in 2023. I would definitely recommend checking out all these websites, as they sometimes have special offers or discounts!
- Lovers.nl/en
- Tours & Tickets
- Get Your Guide (for a cruise with unlimited drinks)
- Viator
- Tiqets
the best time slots for a canal cruise during amsterdam light festival 2023/2024
Since the boat trips and canal cruises around the festival are back, there are Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tours available with various departure locations, types of boats, and packages. You can book either a semi-open or a fully enclosed boat. Personally, I always find the best time to be around 6:30 or 7 PM when it’s really dark. Then you can head straight to a nice restaurant or a cosy pub afterwards!
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a covered boat
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a semi open boat (perfect for pictures)
⋙ Light Festival cruise with unlimited drinks
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a luxury boat
Tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival 2023/2024
I go to the Amsterdam Light Festival every year. Occasionally, I enjoy walking along a part of the route, and other times, around Christmas, we take a boat trip with the whole family. I think this year, I’ll do both! Last year, it was fantastic to do a part of the walk with our son, Manuel.
This year, many cruise companies are offering various boat tours to view the Amsterdam Light Festival 2023 from the water.
That’s why I’m listing all the providers below to give you a good overview of all possible times and dates still available. Depending on the type of boat, you can purchase a ticket starting from €26.50.
For almost all tours, you can choose different boarding points when booking, such as Leidsekade, Loetje at Central Station, and the east side of Central Station. Tickets for the boat tours during the Amsterdam Light Festival are now on sale. So, act quickly to get the best times OR if you plan to do this around the holidays.
Here are the ticket providers lined up. Check them all for any discounts and promotions they offer for the Amsterdam Light Festival.
© Your Little Black Book
Practical information amsterdam light festival 2023/2024
DATES: Thursday, November 30, 2023, to Sunday, January 21, 2024.
LIGHT ARE ON DURING THESE HOURS: From Sunday to Tuesday, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and from Wednesday to Saturday, from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Good news: during the Christmas holidays (December 23 to January 7), the lights will be on every day from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. PLEASE NOTE: the lights will be off on Sunday, December 31st!
FESTIVAL HUB: During the holiday period from December 14th to January 7th, the Amsterdam Light Festival opens a festival hub in the Hoftuin, which is open from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Here, you’ll find two additional light artworks and a catering point.
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a covered boat
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a semi open boat (perfect for pictures)
⋙ Light Festival cruise with unlimited drinks
⋙ Light Festival cruise in a luxury boat
Have a wonderful time!
© Your Little Black Book
© Your Little Black Book
© Your Little Black Book
Amsterdam Bucketlist & Things to Do
(DIGITAL) ART EXPERIENCES IN AMSTERDAM:
⋙ Fabrique des Lumières
⋙ NXT Museum
⋙ STRAAT street art museum
⋙ MOCO Museum for street and modern art
⋙ Amaze, an audiovisual labyrint
FOOD EXPERIENCES IN AMSTERDAM:
⋙ Food Tasting Tour of Jordaan area
⋙ Albert Cuyp Market Food Tour
⋙ Sightseeing Boat Cruise with unlimited drinks
⋙ Pancake Cruise
⋙ Micro Brewery Beer Tasting Tour
BEST BIKE TOURS IN AMSTERDAM:
⋙ Fatbike e-bike tour (also to Amsterdam North)
⋙ Rent a bike by yourself and explore like a local
⋙ Outside of Amsterdam: windmills & Zaanse Schans
⋙ 3 hour biketour: backstreets & hidden gems
FIRST TIME VISIT TO AMSTERDAM – MUST SEE & DO’S:
⋙ Private Canal Boat Tour
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ Canal Cruise in the evening
INSTAGRAM MUSEUMS IN AMSTERDAM:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Youseum
⋙ The Upside Down
DAY TRIPS FROM AMSTERDAM:
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
⋙ Drive-it-Yourself Tulip Fields GPS Audio Tour
⋙ Catch a direct train from Amsterdam to Antwerp, Brussels, London or Paris, starting at € 20,-! Check tickets & prices >>
AMSTERDAM WITH KIDS:
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
⋙ Go an a bike tour with the kids
⋙ NEMO Science Museum
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels in Amsterdam:
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Pillows Maurits at the Park: this newly opened hotel is all about luxury.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: recently renovated, this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ W Amsterdam: with lively restaurants and a posh rooftop bar with swimming pool.
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals with great all day bar.
☾ Hotel Jakarta: the most sustainable hotel ánd great value for money with a spa.
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam from the North side.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale and around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Hotel Mercier: pretty new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city by MGallery.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel with restaurant in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ Ruby Emma: eco design hotel with a great skybar near Amstel station.
AFFORDABLE (FOR AMSTERDAM PRICES) // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Social Hub budget proof in trendy East district close tho the subway.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with several locations in Amsterdam.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb and @yourlbb.amsterdam you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
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