The Amsterdam Light Festival is an annual event that takes place in the Dutch capital during the winter. We will share the route here as soon as it’s released. It lasts for at least 6 weeks and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The light festival of 2023/2024 lasts until the third week of January.
Is the Light Festival free?
Yes. The light festival is free to visit for everyone. It’s organized by a foundation that is depending on small contributions and partnerships.
If you book a tour, you will learn more about the art and the city along the way!
How do you get to the light festival in Amsterdam?
You can start at any artwork as the route can be walked as a circle. It is usually easy to start at Central Station and walk from there.
Bike tour along the artworks
This year, we developed a special bike tour along the festival route. Our guide will tell you everything about the artworks and the city. No need to have a map in hand, just enjoy the artworks while listening to the stories.
You can also choose to rent a bike overnight, for 24 hours, without a guide. Reserve your bike
Where are the artworks of the light festival located?
The light festival is usually located in the east part of the city center of Amsterdam. It has been held since 2012 and has emerged from the 2009 ‘Christmas Canal Parade’. The festival is free to attend and open to the public. Visitors can view the artworks in the evening when the lights are turned on.
The Amsterdam Light Festival route
The 2022/2023 route follows the Eastern part of the city center:
Starting from Central Station, you can walk to NEMO, follow the route along Entrepotdok, Sarphatistraat and along Roeterseiland to the Amstel river. The route then continues via Waterlooplein and the Montelbaanstoren back to Central Station.
We also offer a light art tour with guide by bike >>
How long does it take to walk the light festival?
With the large number of stops this year and time to enjoy the artworks we expect the average group to walk 2.5 hours to finish the entire route. Note that we offer 1.5 hour guided bike tours if you prefer cycling. The route runs through the eastern part of the center.
How many km is the light festival?
The festival route is usually 6-8 kilometers long, depending on the route you choose to walk.
Artworks designed for the festival
Every winter sees a new edition of Amsterdam Light Festival, for more than 11 years now. Artworks are made especially for the festival.
The festival also realizes special projects in collaboration with artists, partners and various stakeholders from the city. For example, hundreds of Amsterdam primary school students participate. The festival also has a collaboration with the Breitner Academy, in which young talent develops a light artwork for the festival. These collaborations have been a permanent part of the festival for eight years now.
