I'm staying in The Hague, Rotterdam or Utrecht. How do I see the Amsterdam Light Festival?
On a normal evening the train is easy: direct trains link Amsterdam Centraal with Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam, and many cruises leave from the Central Station area. By car, Amsterdam is about 48 minutes from Utrecht, 56 minutes from The Hague and 1 h 09 from Rotterdam on a clear road, and a driver who waits while you cruise and dine suits families and groups. New Year's Eve is different: last year NS stopped almost all trains after 20:00.
Last updated:
With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, for an evening trip to the Light Festival | €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 an evening trip to the Light Festival | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, for an evening trip to the Light Festival | €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 |
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.
Train or car
| From | Car, each way | An evening with a driver |
|---|---|---|
| Utrecht | About 48 minutes | 6 hours: €390 in Business Class, €480 in Van Class |
| The Hague | About 56 minutes | 6 hours: €390 in Business Class, €480 in Van Class |
| Rotterdam | About 1 h 09 | 6 hours: €390 in Business Class, €480 in Van Class |
The evening starts and ends at your hotel in your own city; the hours include 40 km of driving each.
Timing
The lights are on from 16:30 to 23:00 every day of the festival, so leave your city around 16:00, cruise at 17:30, dine, and be home before midnight. On December 31 the lights go out at 21:00.
Related questions
Do trains run late?
On normal evenings, yes; check the NS planner for your date and the last train back.
What about December 31?
Last year NS stopped nearly all trains after 20:00, with night trains from 01:00 between Utrecht, Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam.
Can you pick us up at our hotel outside Amsterdam?
Yes; the evening starts and ends there.
Sources
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: cruise (checked October 20, 2026)
- Treinreiziger.nl (December 19, 2025), NS: no trains after 20:00 on December 31 except Schiphol → Amsterdam Centraal until 22:00; night trains from 01:00; Sunday timetable on both Christmas days (checked September 29, 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.