Which night is best for the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026?
For more space, pick a weekday evening outside the Dutch school holidays, so before Saturday, December 19, or from Monday, January 4, and go at about 17:30, when it is fully dark. Weekends and the holidays from December 19 to January 3 are likely to draw the most visitors. Every evening the lights run from 16:30 until 23:00; New Year's Eve is the exception, with the lights out at 21:00.
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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 on a Light Festival evening | €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 on a Light Festival evening | €70 | fixed at booking, detours included · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km on a Light Festival evening | €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.
Night by night
| Nights | What to expect | Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Opening weekend, Thu Nov 26 to Sun Nov 29 | Opening buzz; Thanksgiving travelers in town | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| Weekdays to Fri Dec 18 | More space | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| Weekends to Sun Dec 20 | Busier | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| Sat Dec 19 to Sun Jan 3 | School holidays | 16:30 to 23:00 |
| Thu Dec 31 | Transit stopped from 20:00 last year | 16:30 to 21:00 |
| Mon Jan 4 to Sun Jan 17 | The last two weeks | 16:30 to 23:00 |
Sunset is at 16:35 on opening night and between 16:27 and 16:36 in December.
Rain plan
Heated cruises sail in the rain; walking in it is not much fun. Keep your plan flexible or choose a covered boat, and with a driver by the hour you can switch plans without waiting for a taxi.
Related questions
Is it better before or after Christmas?
Weekdays before December 19 and the last two weeks from January 4 fall outside the school holidays.
How late can I start?
Start a cruise or walk at least 90 minutes before the lights go out at 23:00.
Is it dark enough at 17:30?
Yes. In December the sun sets between 16:27 and 16:36.
Sources
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid: school holidays 2026 to 2027 (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- I amsterdam, New Year’s Eve tips for 2025: public transport stopped 20:00 to 01:00, taxis still available, night buses from 01:30, show on Museumplein (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.