How do I plan a proposal or anniversary evening at the Amsterdam Light Festival?
Book a boat for just the two of you if you want the moment to yourselves: the festival's partner boat companies take requests for private sailings. Choose a weekday outside the school holidays, before December 19 or from January 4, and sail at about 17:30, when the sky is fully dark (sunset is around 16:30 in December). Plan a covered boat in case of rain, keep the ring in a zipped inside pocket on the water, and have a car waiting so you are not hunting for a taxi afterwards.
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With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, for a special 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 special 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 special 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 |
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
The evening
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | Pickup at your hotel |
| 17:30 | Your boat sails |
| 19:00 | Dinner reservation |
| 22:00 | Back at the hotel |
Five hours with a driver: €500 in First Class or €325 in Business Class. A Mercedes-Maybach is available on request.
Photos
Ask the boat company whether a photographer can come along. The light art photographs best in the first hour after dark, between about 17:00 and 18:00 in December.
Related questions
Which nights are quieter?
Weekdays outside the school holidays, so before December 19 or from January 4.
What if it rains?
Book a covered, heated boat, or keep the evening flexible with a driver by the hour.
Can the car wait during dinner?
Yes, when you book by the hour; the driver waits nearby.
Sources
- Amsterdam Light Festival: cruise (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 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.