Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise by Captain Dave
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Don’t miss the annual canal boat tour event. During the Amsterdam Festival of Lights (from November 26 to January 17, 2027), the city is illuminated by international light artists, transforming the historic center into an open‑air light exhibition —best experienced from the water.
Join us for an evening cruise and enjoy front‑row views as Amsterdam’s canals, bridges, and buildings glow with light art.
The Festival of Lights is one of the Top 10 winter festivals in Europe
— The Guardian
We sail on two exceptional boats. The historic Jonckvrouw (1928), once used by presidents, mayors, and the Dutch royal family, offers a warm and intimate setting. Selected departures also take place on the iconic James Bond boat with wide views over the water.
Both boats are fully electric and heated, with sliding windows, a sunroof, an open aft deck, and a light‑use toilet on board.
Book direct for the best experience and come join us on the water.
Captain Dave Amsterdam
#captaindaveamsterdam
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not recommened for travelers with acute intestinal problems
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Herengracht
We depart from Herengracht 124-128 where we will also end the cruise
What‘s Included
Restroom on board (light use only)
Winter drinks included, such as mulled wine, hot chocolate, and other beverages
Heated boat with extra blankets for a comfortable evening cruise
Personable, non‑scripted local captain — your host and fully licensed guide
90‑minute Festival of Lights canal cruise with first‑class views of the open‑air exhibition
Gratuities
Options
Light Festival Tour
Small group experience, 12 max
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Drinks included: Mulled wine, Heineken, wine, soda, water
Light Tour with first-class view: We stick to a fixed route to see the best of the Amsterdam Light Festival. Boat tour with lively and personal guidance.
Jonckvrouw and James Bond: 4:30-6:30-8:30pm –Jonckvrouw
Historic vessel® from 1928
5:00-7:00pm –James Bond
Former taxiboat with 360° panoramic view
Reviews
123 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
To big expectations?
Tilla68,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00It could be that I had to big expectations due to the high ratings. Captain Dave did not join us this evening and his replacement was a nice guy , but a very ‘fast speaker ‘ He also was a bit stressed I think… Forgot to mention that we needed to help our self with the drinks since he was busy being the captain. The lightarts was beautiful, but not spectacular. Nice to have a boattrip on the canal so we will for sure do that again when we come back to beautiful Amsterdam in spring.
Fab light fest private tour
wendy lynn b,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain dave light fest tour was fab. We had gone last year with them too and this year even better- the commentary/skipper on board karim but also captain dave mgmt/hospitality/troubleshooting. Comfortable warm boat in freezing weather. A must to go again and spread the positive word.
A Magical Journey Through Amsterdam’s Lights with Captain Dave
pascalbX5664KT,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise with Captain Dave was truly a magical experience. Our captain navigated the boat, which, despite its nearly 100 years, is still in impeccable condition, with remarkable skill. The intimate atmosphere of the small tour, with only five passengers aboard, made the experience even more special. Captain Dave, an incredibly knowledgeable and charming woman, shared her extensive insights about the city and the stunning light art, entertaining us wonderfully. Included in the price were delicious snacks and an excellent selection of beverages, which made the journey even more enjoyable. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to explore the city from the water. We wholeheartedly recommend Captain Dave!
5 out of 5 stars
A987OElarak,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful boat! Our guide was wonderful. Beverages and snacks were better than expected! This is definitely worth going on, small private group experience is worth it.
Tour Operator was...
Brenda B,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Tour Operator was awesome. The light display not as advertised on the various booking sites. Not much to see.
Could have been better
Kris B,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00It all sounds spectacular--Amsterdam Light Festival-- but it was rather unspecial. We remained inside during the wintry cruise and the views were limited because of the windows, the rain, and all the other passengers. Our Captain was good at the steering wheel but referred to everyone as "Guys" about a 100 times during the hour+ trip. The wine/food offerings were meager: stale Pringles and questionable vintages. It could have been better with Christmas jazz and bigger windows. The lights were pretty but not breathtaking.
Captain Dave and Crew are Fantastic!
dgtraveler 13,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience. Researched different boats and picked Captain Dave. It’s a smaller boat (12 people) than most of the massive commercial tours and we were able to take some side options while others were waiting in traffic on the canal. Lots of great/fun/interactive information. Didn’t need a boat with all the food, we had snacks and plenty of drink options. Would definitely recommend Captain Dave and crew. Fantastic!!
Scenic and Well-Run Light Festival Cruise
Suttee H,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Light Festival boat tour with Okka as our captain was a wonderful experience. Having a small group was perfect. It combined informative commentary with breathtaking views of the canals and light art. The boat was comfortable and warm, with an outdoor deck for fresh air, and offered a nice variety of drinks and light snacks.
Beautiful!
C46OUestellem,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful little cruise on the canals, warm in the beautiful boat. Karim the captain is great, he fascinates us with his anecdotes about his heart town. The lights are magic! We highly recommend to discover the city in one evening.
Fabulous, would recommend
Y9060QTgracel,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great time on this cruise. Easy meeting instructions, very friendly captain and a lovely boat. Very comfortable, plenty of drinks and snacks. Captain (Roman) had plenty of interesting stories and was happy to answer questions about the boat and Amsterdam in general. The group was very small (max 12) which made the experience even better - we sailed past many other much larger canal boats and I was very glad to have chosen Captain Dave instead. Would recommend!!
From €49.00
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