Amsterdam Light Festival

General information

Amsterdam Light Festival has been a yearly tradition for the last 12 years, illuminating the city in the darkest months of the year. The coming edition is special, as it coincides with Amsterdam's 750th anniversary. For a whole year, all over town, residents, districts and institutions commemorate and celebrate the unique spirit of Amsterdam. What custom is more appropriate to mark this special milestone than a ritual?

For Edition 13 we have asked artists to shed their light on the theme Rituals. The result is an inspiring route along the iconic canals of Amsterdam, adorned with of over 25 artworks created especially for the festival. Experience the artworks with your loved ones, family members or that one friendly neighbour, from the water or land.

Information Edition 13

The lights go on at 5pm every day. From Sunday to Tuesday, they are on until 10pm and from Wednesday to Saturday until 11pm. During the Christmas holidays, the lights are on until 11pm every day. With the exception of 31 December, when the lights will be off.

The festival is easy to reach by bike or public transport. On the route, you will find a number of information points and catering outlets.

An information point can be found at the Stoperaplein (do-so & 21 Dec-5 Jan daily, 16.30-22:00), where enthusiastic festival volunteers will be happy to talk to you. A special meeting place created in the Hoftuin,(do-so & 21 Dec-5 Jan daily, 16.30-22:00) is not missing during the 13th edition.

If you want to stay informed about Amsterdam Light Festival, visit the website.

Accessibility

The route is accessible for people with health conditions or impairments. Please do take into account that the route goes through the historical city centre of Amsterdam, with uneven pavement and (steep) bridges. Not all boat companies are wheelchair accessible, always check with the cruise company before booking. If you wish to remain offline during your visit, there is a limited number of printed route maps available at our information points.

Tickets

You can experience the light artworks both by boat or by foot. Tickets for the cruise and walking experiences can be ordered via the festival website from 1 October onwards. With an audio guide on the canal cruises, the festival app and various communication tools, the festival introduces visitors to the theme of the new edition.