How do I get to my Light Festival canal cruise departure point with limited mobility?
First check the jetty on your ticket, because Light Festival cruises leave from different places per boat company and the festival asks you to be there 15 minutes early; many leave around Central Station. Then have a car take you as close to that jetty as cars may go — €50 in Business Class from a hotel within 10 km — and book it again for when the boat returns about 75 minutes later.
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Hotel → cruise jetty and back: fixed prices
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, hotel → cruise jetty in Amsterdam, up to 10 km | €50 | fixed at booking · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, hotel → cruise jetty in Amsterdam, up to 10 km | €70 | fixed at booking · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, hotel → cruise jetty in Amsterdam, up to 10 km | €90 | fixed at booking · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Up to 15 km inside Amsterdam the minimum is €70 in Business Class. Book the return separately for the time your cruise ends, or keep the car by the hour. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. 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 the festival says about access
| Question | The festival’s answer |
|---|---|
| Where do cruises leave from? | It differs per boat company — the departure point is on your ticket. Many cruises leave from the Central Station area. |
| When should I be there? | 15 minutes before departure. Tickets are for a fixed date and time slot. |
| Are all boats wheelchair accessible? | No. The festival names Blue Boat Company as accessible and asks you to contact them before booking. |
| Is the walking route accessible? | In theory, but the old center has uneven pavement and steep bridges. |
Amsterdam Light Festival FAQ, checked September 29, 2026.
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
- Room in the trunk for a folding wheelchair or rollator, declared at booking
From your hotel to the boat, step by step
- Choose an accessible boat. If you use a wheelchair, contact the boat company before you buy the ticket, as the festival advises.
- Tell us the jetty and the time. Book the car for about 30 minutes before boarding, with the departure point from your ticket.
- The drop-off. The chauffeur stops at the nearest point cars may use; the last stretch to the jetty is on foot or by wheelchair.
- The return. A second booking for when the cruise ends, about 75 minutes later, back to your hotel door.
Related questions
Can the car wait while we are on the boat?
It can, by the hour, but a cruise of about 75 minutes plus boarding is close to two hours, the minimum for hourly hire. Two fixed rides, there and back, are usually simpler; from a central hotel each is €50 in Business Class.
Do you have a car with a ramp for a wheelchair?
No. Our cars are sedans and Mercedes V-Class vans without a ramp or lift, so the passenger needs to be able to move into a car seat. A folding wheelchair or rollator travels in the trunk if you mention it when you book.
How far is Central Station from the Museum Quarter by car?
About 5 km, roughly 14 minutes on a clear evening, so a cruise from the Central Station area is an easy ride from most hotels in the center and the south.
Can the whole family come in one car?
Yes. A Van Class car seats up to 7 people; tell us about a wheelchair or rollator when you book so the space is kept free.
Sources
- Amsterdam Light Festival FAQ — cruises every 30 minutes, 4:30–9:30 p.m., about 75 minutes; be at the jetty 15 minutes early; departure points differ per company (checked September 29, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival FAQ — wheelchair access of the route and the boats; many cruises leave from the Central Station area (checked September 29, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival — edition 15, November 26, 2026 – January 17, 2027 (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.