The Amsterdam Light Festival
Bridge 242, Peter Vink (2022).
Every year, the city of Amsterdam, that’s already known for its cultural heritage and its artistic vibrancy, is transformed into a truly enchanting place thanks to the Amsterdam Light Festival. During the winter months, the iconic canals and streets will be completely transformed into something magical. This annual event of light and art completely transforms the once simply conventional charm of the city.
What is the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The Amsterdam Light Festival has been around for quite some years by now as the first edition dates back to 2012. The idea was formed thanks to a collective vision, which led to the stunning event we can all visit today. The idea behind the Amsterdam Light Festival was to illuminate the cityscape during the darkest months of the year and to create something different. In this collective vision was also the desire to celebrate both art and creativity as well as light and architecture.
During the Amsterdam Light Festival, there are a lot of stunning light sculptures and installations for visitors to see, which are strategically placed along the picturesque canals of the famous city as well as near the prominent landmarks. The captivating sculptures are created by numerous international artists, which is why there are so many different themes to be seen. Some artists choose environmental sustainability as their theme, while others go for socio-political commentary. Not only will these themes invoke wonder among its spectators, but contemplation as well.
Every single installation of the Amsterdam Light Festival is meticulously curated and designed to transcend the conventional boundaries of art, using light, space and innovation. The use of vibrant hues, intricate designs and interactive elements creates a sensory spectacle, engaging audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The theme of the festival
The most important part of the Amsterdam Light Festival is the theme that guides the eventual creation of the luminous masterpieces. Every year, they choose a theme that mirrors societal narratives, ecological concerns or cultural heritage, thus inviting artists to interpret and spread their own messages through the light sculptures.
Diversity is one of the themes that is often celebrated through these sculptures, but sustainability and technological advancements are often explored as well. The different themes provide the artists with the opportunity to articulate their narratives through their artistic creations, which sparks conversations among the spectators and fosters a deeper connection between art and society.
The highlights of Amsterdam Light Festival
The Amsterdam Light Festival is a stunning gathering of pieces of art from artists from all over the world that everyone must see at least once in their lifetime. There’s plenty to do and see and visitors can choose for themselves how they want to experience this spectacle. The artworks can be seen from two different routes; one by boat and one by walking. Both of these routes have their own theme and therefor different expositions of the artwork.
The experience will be completely different depending on the route you choose as well. If visitors choose for the walking route, they get to enjoy every light sculpture at their own pace while talking to their friends and family about the stunning artwork they’re spectating. Many cafes offer glühwein as well during the festival, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
The boat route on the other hand gives the whole experience something magical. You only get the opportunity once a year to cruise through the iconic canals of Amsterdam while looking at all kinds of stunning sculptures. While visitors are looking at the amazing artwork around them, they can talk to the other spectators on the boat about the sculpture they just saw and what the message behind it might be.
The route and dates of the festival
As we mentioned before, there are two different routes for visitors to take during the Amsterdam Light Festival; by boat or by walking. For those who want the absolute best view of the artwork, we recommend getting on a boat. Visitors can sit comfortably on a heated canal boat, which makes the experience more enjoyable already. An Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise also often comes with its own audio guide, which means the visitors will learn much more about the artwork they are seeing. Most cruises take about 75 minutes and leave every 30 minutes. There are multiple departure points as well in Amsterdam, like the Central Station, Amsterdam Noord and Oosterdock. This way, everyone can choose the departure point that’s most convenient for them.
The other route is a walking route of 7.5 km. One of the advantages of this route as compared to the boat route is that visitors can explore the artwork at their own pace. This route is also free, whereas the cruise usually costs around €20-€30. For visitors who want more information about the different pieces of art, there is an app with digital map included that contains all of the locations of the different light sculptures as well as their descriptions. The route map can be bought for €7,99.
The Amsterdam Light Festival takes place from the 30th of November 2023 to the 21st of January 2024. The lights are on from 17:00 to 22:00 from Sunday to Tuesday and from 17:00 to 23:00 from Wednesday to Saturday. However, during the Christmas Break from the 23rd of December to the 7th of January the lights are on from 17:00 to 23:00 every day.
Lease your own company boat for next year’s Amsterdam Light Festival
In order to get the full experience, we definitely recommend opting for the boat cruise to get the most out of visiting the Amsterdam Light Festival. This festival might especially be a great opportunity for team-outings in a company. Besides the event, leasing a company boat comes with many other advantages as well.
If you’re interested in boatique lease possibilities, please contact us through our website. Our aim is to provide the unmatched experience of having a company boat in Amsterdam while simultaneously eliminating the responsibilities and risks that come with owning a boat. With boatique’s boat leasing services, your company will gain access to a unique marketing opportunity that’s customizable for various professional engagements while always ensuring a luxurious execution. Not to mention that your company will be able to cruise along the Amsterdam canals during the Amsterdam Light Festival of 2024. This will be an experience none of the guests will soon forget.
When you choose for boatique’s corporate boat leasing services, we will make sure the boat matches the company. The company’s design and colors will be painted onto the vessel so it will always truly feel like your company’s very own boat. At boatique, we believe it’s important to give company’s the boat that they both want and need so every boat’s design is fully customizable to your company’s wishes.
