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Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026: all about the Foodwalk, canal cruises and routes // until January 18
Last update: today
For the 14th time, the Amsterdam Light Festival 2025 will give our city a magical touch this winter. Until January 18, 2026, you'll find 20 unique light artworks in and around Amsterdam's city center! During the 14th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival, the light artworks will transport you to the world of rituals in the broadest sense of the word. This year's overarching theme is "LEGACY." A special highlight this year is the brand-new Amsterdam Light Festival FoodwalksA culinary takeaway walk along the route!
Amsterdam Light Festival Foodwalks
The Foodwalk is BACK during the Amsterdam Light Festival! This year you can book even more different walks with friends, your partner, colleagues, or family. From Street Food to Oysters en Cocktails Your voice has been heard and the offer is even better than last year.
And if you are in Amsterdam as a tourist? Then the new 'Amsterdam Walk'Highly recommended. Enjoy!
All WALKS include the Amsterdam Light Festival app (worth €6,99).
- Street Food Walk | Thu–Sat | 4 bites included | €43,50 | tickets >>
- Oyster Walk | Thu–Sat | 8 oysters included | €38,50 | tickets >>
- Cocktail Walk | Wed–Sat | 3 cocktails included | €35,50 | tickets >>
- Amsterdam Walk | Sun–Wed | 3 drinks + Dutch bar snacks included | €33,50 | tickets >>
New: Early Dinner or Late Night Dinner during the Amsterdam Light Festival
Would you prefer a sit-down dinner before or after your Amsterdam Light Festival stroll? Then book the two-course Early Dinner or Late Dinner menu.
Early Dinner
The Early Dinner is for anyone who prefers a sit-down dinner and then wants to explore the Amsterdam Light Festival at their leisure. You'll start the evening promptly at 5:00 PM with a delicious two-course meal (starter and main course) at one of the partner restaurants, after which you can stroll into the city to view the light artworks. The menu, including the Amsterdam Light Festival app, costs €41. More information about the menus and reservations >>
Late Night Dinner
The program Late Night Dinner It's perfect for anyone who wants a bite to eat after strolling through the Amsterdam Light Festival. End your evening at 9:00 PM with a delicious two-course meal (main course and dessert) at one of the partner restaurants. We bet you'll have plenty to talk about after seeing all those beautiful artworks! The menu, including the Amsterdam Light Festival app, costs €41. More information about the menus and reservations >>
© Your Little Black Book
Canal Cruises and sailing routes during Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026
To be honest... the most beautiful thing is to Amsterdam Light Festival from the water There's so much to experience! This year, you can book several beautiful canal cruises and tours, each lasting approximately 60-75 minutes. Fun with friends, family, kids, a date, or your partner! And as always: book early, because the best time slots fill up quickly. There are several canal cruise providers this year, so it's helpful to check all the websites if you have a specific date or time in mind.
These are the websites where you can buy tickets for canal cruises and tour boats during the Amsterdam Light Festival in 2025. I would definitely check out all these websites because they sometimes have special offers or discounts!
- Lovers.nl
- Tours & Tickets
- Get Your Guide (for a boat trip with unlimited drinks)
- Viator
- Tiqets
the best times for boat trips during the Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026
Because the boat trips and canal cruises around the festival are also back, there are Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tours With various departure locations, boat types, and packages available. You can book either a semi-open or fully enclosed boat. I always find the best time is around 6:30 or 7:00 PM, when it's really dark. Then you can head straight to a nice restaurant or cozy pub!
⋙ Cruise on a semi-open boat (and therefore perfect for photos!)
⋙ Cruise with unlimited drinks
Tickets for cruises to the Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026
I go to the Amsterdam Light Festival every year. Sometimes I enjoy walking a section along the route, other times we take a boat trip with the whole family around Christmas. This year I think I'll do both! Last year, with our son Manuel, it was also wonderful to do part of the walk.
This year again there are many shipping companies offering various boat trips to explore Amsterdam Light Festival 2025 from the water to watch.
That's why I've listed all the providers below once again, so you have a good overview of all the possible times and dates still available. Depending on the type of boat, you can buy an (early bird) ticket starting at €22.
For almost all tours, you can choose from various departure 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 on sale now. So be quick to book your tickets for the best times, or if you'd like to do this around the holidays, for example.
Here's a list of ticket providers. Check them all out for any discounts and promotions they offer for the Amsterdam Light Festival:
© Your Little Black Book
Practical information Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026
DATES: Thursday, November 27, 2025 to Sunday, January 18, 2026.
LIGHTS ON: Sunday through Tuesday from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM and Wednesday through Saturday from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Good news: During the Christmas holidays (December 20th to January 4th), the lights will be on every day from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM. NOTE: The lights will go off at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, December 31st!
From January 5th to January 18th, the lights will be on at 5:00 PM. From Wednesday to Saturday, they will remain on until 11:00 PM, and from Sunday to Tuesday, they will remain on until 10:00 PM.
TICKETS & ACTIVITIES:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival Foodwalk
⋙ Cruise with unlimited drinks
⋙ Cruise on a semi-open boat (and therefore perfect for photos!)
Have fun!
© Your Little Black Book
| TIP: Also check out this list of light festivals throughout the Netherlands >>
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