When is the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026, and what time do the lights come on?
The 15th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival runs from Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day), to Sunday, January 17, 2027, with light artworks along the canals and streets of the historic center. The lights are on every day from 16:30 to 23:00, except on New Year's Eve, when they go out at 21:00. Walking the 4.5 km route costs nothing, and a canal cruise along it takes about 75 minutes.
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Fixed rides and a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km to a Light Festival cruise | €50 | fixed at booking, detours included · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km to a Light Festival cruise | €70 | fixed at booking, detours included · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km to a Light Festival cruise | €90 | fixed at booking, detours included · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Business Class, for a Light Festival evening | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, for a Light Festival evening | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, for a Light Festival evening | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Rides inside Amsterdam up to 10 km have a fixed price per car (€50 in Business Class); a detour around closures does not change it. Longer rides are priced per kilometer and shown before you book. By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the day starts and ends in the same city. The driver waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Hours at a glance
| Period | Lights on | Lights off |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Nov 26, 2026 to Sun Jan 17, 2027 | 16:30 | 23:00 |
| Thu Dec 31 | 16:30 | 21:00 |
Sunset is at 16:35 on opening night and 16:27 in mid December, so the art is at its best from about 17:00.
Cruise or walk
| Cruise | Walk | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Stromma showed €22.75 to €29.75 for its heated canal cruise and from €25.75 for an open electric boat on October 20 | Free; the festival app with the route and audio guide comes out in mid November |
| Time | About 75 minutes | 4.5 km, in full or in sections |
| Warmth | Covered, heated boats available | Dress for nights of about 1 to 5 °C (34 to 40 °F) |
| Access | Ask the operator which boats take a wheelchair | Uneven pavement and bridges |
Getting to your boat
Many cruises leave from the Central Station area, and departure points differ per company. The festival asks you to be at the jetty 15 minutes before departure, and evening traffic around Centraal can be slow. From a hotel inside Amsterdam the ride is fixed at €50 in Business Class for up to 10 km; a driver who waits through the cruise and dinner costs €65 an hour.
The information point
The festival's information point is inside Amstel 1, in the Central Station area. It is open Thursday to Sunday from 16:30 to 21:00, daily during the Christmas holidays from December 19 to January 3, and closed on December 25 and 31.
Related questions
Is the Light Festival on during Christmas?
Yes. The lights are on every day of the festival, December 25 included; check your cruise operator's holiday schedule.
Can I sail the route in my own boat?
Yes. The festival app sells the route map with the artwork locations, available from November 24.
Is the Amsterdam Light Festival free?
Walking the route is. Cruises are sold by the boat companies, per time slot.
Sources
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: cruise (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: walk (checked October 20, 2026)
- Stromma: Amsterdam Light Festival cruises (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival FAQ, cruises every 30 minutes, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., about 75 minutes; be at the jetty 15 minutes early; departure points differ per company (checked September 29, 2026)
- NOAA Solar Calculator, sunset times in Amsterdam (local time) (checked October 8, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.