Amsterdam Light Festival 2024
Annual winter event that lights the city with beautiful light art
Every year for over a decade the Amsterdam Light Festival has been delighting residents and visitors alike in Amsterdam. During December and January some of the cities buildings and canals become works of art. Another reason to visit Amsterdam at Christmas time – as if you need one.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies and services we trust. If you purchase something after clicking any link, then we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (policy page).
There are usually a few dozen light art installations created by Dutch and International artists. The Amsterdam light art festival is focussed around the historic centre of Amsterdam each year.
When is Amsterdam Light Festival 2024
Amsterdam Light Festival 2024 takes place between 28 November 2024 and 19 January 2025.
Getting around
The light art is usually focussed around the canals and some of the buildings, but each year does vary depending on the art installations that are submitted and accepted to the festival. You can easily follow the route (usually a map is downloadable for a small fee), but you may also want to use the Amsterdam public transport to help you get around the city if needed. This years Amsterdam Light festival theme is “World of Rituals”.
Light Festival Opening Times
As it is winter, it gets darker earlier so the festival lights up at 5pm and turns off at 11pm. On New Year’s Eve they turn off at 8pm.
Tickets for Amsterdam Light Festival 2024
You do not need tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival. You will be able to see the light art works from all sorts of vantage points (although you will need to know where they are located).
However, you can get tickets for canal boat trips that focus purely on the light art and are probably the nicest way to experience the light instalations in Amsterdam. These canal tours will follow the best routes through the city and give you a whole new angle on the lights when compared to seeing them from the sides of the canal.
As the Light Festival becomes more and more popular each year, there are many more providers offering tours than previously.
Explore all available Amsterdam Light Festival Tours
You can also buy a digital route map which will take you along the route so you don’t miss any artworks and you can read the artwork descriptions from your phone.
There is also an audio guide which combines with the route map, so you can listen to the descriptions and stories as you follow the route. There is even a private guided tour option available too.
Amsterdam Winter Card
The Amsterdam Winter Card is a unique pass designed to help you enjoy the winter season in Amsterdam.
Included in the card is a Light Festival Canal Cruise from Central Station, entrance to Amsterdam Winter Paradise – The Ultimate Winter Experience and an Amsterdam City Audio Guide for your smartphone.
This is the perfect card to help you get in the spirit of Christmas and to enjoy time together. The Winter Paradise includes ice skating, tobogganing and a whole host of fun Christmas things to do together.
Amsterdam Light Festival adds even more to Christmas time in Amsterdam
At the start of every year there is a call for artworks where designers, artists and other creatives can submit an artwork for consideration into the years festival. This draws hundreds of entries from across the globe.
During the festival there is a public vote and the favourite artworks are selected. Additionally, after the light festival has ended, selected artworks become part of a permanent collection that then travels around the world to lighten other cities and spaces.
With Christmas markets and the ‘normal’ Christmas lights, the light festival combines to make Amsterdam a very magical and wondrous place to visit in December and January.
