Amsterdam Light Festival: Saloon Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Bypass the crowds and take in Amsterdam at night in a relaxed, warm setting on this Light Festival cruise. Journey through waterways aboard a covered saloon boat with unobstructed views of illuminated artworks and city highlights. Upgrade your experience to include unlimited drinks and light snacks. Ideal as a laidback evening activity that allows you to rest your feet.
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Canal Ring
- Learn more about the city with live commentary
- Easy to fit into a busy vacation schedule
- Beat the elements in a covered boat
What's Included
- 75-minute Cruise along the artworks of the Amsterdam Light Festival
- Experienced local skipper and live guide
- Unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate and soft drinks (if option chosen)
- Small bite or a stroopwafel (if option chosen)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Het Scheepvaartmuseum| The National Maritime Museum (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Please do not arrive earlier than 10 minutes before boarding time. Early boarding is not possible and will lead to longer queues and unnecessary congestion on the quay.
- A fairly big step has to be made into the boat. Our stewards will assist you with this.
- Please note that we are not responsible for delays caused by the official festival route, demonstrations, or other unforeseen events.
- We advise you to wear weather-appropriate clothing, since it can be chilly on the water.
- Our stewards dressed in bright orange clothing are there to inform and help you.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Michaelann_B
Had a wonderful time! Our fight was delayed and they booked us to the next night!
Our tour guide was wonderful!! Kiara was great! The skipper was fun! Enjoyed this so much. Would highly recommend!!!!!
Reviews
4.3
based on 147 reviews
AnaCarolina_A, Jan 2026
Nice boat. The trip was good, we enjoyed the lights and the canals at night are very beautiful. Snacks were good, but not enough in quantity.
yeon_k, Dec 2025
Leon and Ivan were great, as were the lights. It's advertised as an enclosed boat but ours had open ends and plastic windows in the middle. The provided blankets helped but it was freezing in the cold night. Be prepared for that.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Yeon,
Thank you for your review. We are very sorry to hear that your recent cruise with us did not quite meet your expectations.
While we are delighted to hear that you found our staff and the lights great, we would like to sincerely apologise for the fact that your boat was partially open, leaving you so cold in the evening. We aim to provide all our guests with an enjoyable experience and truly regret that this was not the case for you.
Rest assured, we will address this matter with our team to improve on this for the future. If there is anything else you would like to discuss or bring to our attention, please feel free to reach out to us directly.
Once again, we are deeply sorry for the discomfort and frustration we have caused you. Hopefully, we will have the chance to welcome you on board with us again in the warmer seasons for an even better experience!
Warm regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
Alexandra_B, Dec 2025
Not as advertised, boat was nothing like advertised, ended up being one step up from a dinghy with a plastic cover over it huddled around a picnic table, it rained which meant you couldn’t see anything of the light displays or take photos through the plastic tent, even if it wasn’t raining you would have serious neck problems trying to keep stretching to turn round and you were sat with your back to the side of the boat. Hot drink is from a vacuum flask and you got 1 waffle (so much for unlimited). Staff very disorganised as they didn’t know my booking was with them or not, stood waiting for a long time to find out. Tour guide was very well informed about the displays i.e. by quoting from “Google”. Not worth the money paid, would have been better taking a normal canal cruise and taking your own beverages and snacks. I had been looking forward to going to the Light Festival for a number of years now but came away extremely disappointed. I only gave one star and that was for the stroopwafel!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are saddened to hear that you were disappointed with your tour. Providing an enjoyable experience for all our customers is our top priority, and it’s disheartening to hear that we have fallen short in that regard.
We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the boat used during the tour and that it didn't live up to the expectations set through our advertisements. Although we have a uniform style for all of our boats, every boat has its own personality and character.
We are also sorry to hear that the boarding process was chaotic, and we can understand the disappointment you must have experienced, especially if you were further disappointed with the storytelling aspect of the tour and felt that the information the host provided was too superficial.
We truly apologise for the inconvenience and will address how we can be more transparent with the experiences we offer. Please feel free to contact us privately if there’s anything we can do to ameliorate the situation. We appreciate your feedback and hope we can welcome you again for a better experience.
Best regards,
Flying Dutch Boats
Front Office Team
Michaelann_B, Dec 2025
Had a wonderful time! Our fight was delayed and they booked us to the next night!
Our tour guide was wonderful!! Kiara was great! The skipper was fun! Enjoyed this so much. Would highly recommend!!!!!
Chrystal_W, Nov 2025
The boat was late to the dock so we didn’t leave for approximately 30 minutes past our scheduled departure time. In addition, the boat was packed beyond capacity. In the description, it is noted that there would be a MAXIMUM of 45 people. Our boat had more than 60 passengers, per the worker, making it virtually impossible for anyone to walk around, be served drinks, see lights/artwork, etc. The options were limited for an all you can drink experience and the ‘small bite’ was a package of stale pretzels and crackers. The workers tried really hard to make it enjoyable but it was almost impossible due to the amount of people on the boat.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Chrystal,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, we truly appreciate it. I’m very sorry to hear that your tour didn’t meet your expectations, especially with the delayed departure and the overcrowding. That is absolutely not the standard we aim to deliver, and I completely understand how frustrating this must have been for you.
Your feedback about the capacity and overall experience is extremely important, and we’re taking it seriously. We want every guest to feel comfortable, cared for, and able to enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival the way it’s meant to be experienced.
We would really appreciate the opportunity to make this right for you. Whenever you have a moment, please get in touch with us directly so we can look into a suitable solution together.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and I hope we can restore your confidence in us.
Kind regards,
Jessie
Karen_W, Feb 2025
Amazing with friendly knowledgeable staff
Beautiful Amsterdam absolutely stunning and can’t wait to return
Kimberly_S, Jan 2025
The light part of the tour was 7/10, cool displays. However we enjoyed in its entirety bc my husband and I laughed and talked amongst ourselves. The light show part was nice but in between the exhibits the tour got pretty boring(make the most out of it). The drinks were good, our first time having hot wine(yummy). Guides were very nice and tried interacting with everyone, everyone didn't interact with them but my family did. I'd say go, overall I give it a 7/10 and worth the price.
Anna_V, Jan 2025
It was very crowded, touristic, and too many people on the boat. The boat was not a proper saloon boat. The children did not have a good sight on the show. The information provided was poor.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Anna,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
We are truly sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide a warm and enjoyable experience for all of our guests and we regret we could not provide that for you.
Your comments are of great value to us since it helps us improve in different areas of our operation.
We would like to apologize again and can welcome you on board again in the future to provide you with a more enjoyable experience!
Warm regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
bristolcfo, Dec 2024
Decent boat, well organized service. Superb staff who worked hard, were knowledgeable and made it fun.
Shiva_D, Dec 2024
Absolutely meaningless “cruise”, nothing worthy of seeing, the “light festival” was a joke, my house has more lights than this festival!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Dear Shiva,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the Light Festival cruise did not meet your expectations.
The Amsterdam Light Festival is made each year by a team of artists, and we understand that the installations may not appeal to everyone. We strive to provide a memorable and enjoyable experience on board, and we regret that this was not the case for you.
Your feedback is important to us, and we will share your comments with the team to ensure we continue to improve the experience we offer.
If you would like to discuss your experience further, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Kind regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
Ann_J, Dec 2024
The boat we ended up on was not as advertised. Seating made it hard to view out . Guide(American from Arizona) was good
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Dear Ann,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the boat you were on did not meet your expectations, especially regarding the seating arrangement. We understand how important it is to have a clear view during the cruise and that the boat did not match what you had expected based on our advertising.
We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the guide’s commentary, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. We appreciate your input and will work to improve the overall experience for our guests.
Thank you again for your review, and if you wish to discuss your experience further please reach out to us.
Kind regards,
Jessie
Front Office Managment
Dwee808, Dec 2024
The lights were beautiful and but this was not a good experience. Viewing was horrible not only because it was raining but many of the windows were plastic and due to condensation, they became opaque which really limited viewing. If you take this cruise, you want to try and be next to a glass window which was much easier to see out of.
In addition, seating was lined up on either side of the boat rather than facing forward so you only really hit to see the lights on one side of the boat.
The guides had no microphone or voice amplification so had to shout out what we were seeing when we came upon a light installation. Other customers were having a great time as they should but it made it very difficult to hear or understand what the guides were saying.
Lastly, there was no operable restroom onboard the ship so after waiting 45 minutes past our start time because boats were running behind combined with a a 75+ minute boat ride meant that many of us had to make a dash for restrooms as soon as the boat docked. There are no restroom facilities nearby so this led to a few anxious moments!
If I had to do it again, I would opt to book one of the major cruise companies that have larger boats and forward facing seats with glass windows.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Dear valued customer,
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We are sorry to hear your experience did not meet your expectations.
We understand the challenges caused by rain and condensation on the plastic windows, and we will work on improving visibility for all seats. The seating layout and lack of forward-facing seats are designed for a more intimate experience, but we understand that this not work ideally for everyone.
We apologize for the difficulty hearing the guides without microphone and for the lack of restrooms onboard, especially with the delay before departure. We will review these aspects to better accommodate our guests in the future.
Your feedback is valuable, and we hope you will consider giving us another chance to provide a more enjoyable experience.
Warm regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
Steven_D, Dec 2024
Really bad weather, but the staff were really friendly, and made the trip worthwhile. The canal lights were lovely
Alex_S, Dec 2024
It was my first time in Amsterdam and this canal cruise was one of the best ways to experience the city aswell as enjoy the light festival that’s currently on the staff on board were very knowledgeable and very friendly
Ana_H, Dec 2024
A bit disorganized on the narrative, but overall a very good tour even with the rain. The captain was great and very knowledgeable
Donna_S, Aug 2024
Great to have a live guide not a headset. The people on board interacted, and cruised with a drink. You could ask any questions and have them answered. She was witty and informative. Very relaxed, fun and educational. Good for families and couples.
Isabella_C, Jul 2024
We originally booked a tour at 9, but showed up early and they were super accommodating allowing us to take an earlier boat. It was our tour guides first day, and we had no clue! He was amazing and so well educated!
Walter_E, Jun 2024
The boat had no shading. U.brellas didn't really work. Either couldn't hear or couldn't understand guides. Very little interesting points of what we were seeing.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Walter,
Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the discomfort you experienced due to the lack of shading on the boat and the ineffective umbrellas. We understand how important it is to have a comfortable and informative tour, especially during the summer.
We're also sorry to hear that you had difficulty hearing and understanding our guides and that the commentary provided was not as interesting as you had hoped. We strive to offer an engaging and informative experience, and it's clear we fell short.
Your feedback is invaluable, and we will take steps to improve our shading options, enhance the audibility, and ensure our guides provide more interesting and informative commentary.
Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention. If there is anything else you wish to further discuss or bring to our attention, please contact us directly. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much-improved experience in the future.
Kind regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
Geo_M, Feb 2024
Very bad experience, we just waited to get out of the boat. Nobody cared for us. Captain and the crew didn't tall to us... Didnt say a single word to our 7 member guest including my kid.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Dear Geo,
We're truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with us. Providing excellent service and ensuring our guests feel welcomed and attended to are our top priorities, and we regret that we fell short of meeting your expectations during your recent visit.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns directly. Could you please email us at customersupport@flagshipamsterdam.com with more details about your experience? This will allow us to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate measures to improve our service.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused, and we hope to have the chance to make it right and regain your trust in our services.
Warm regards,
Jessie
Front Office Management
David_H, Oct 2023
While the canal tour was lovely, this booking platform is the spammiest most awful experience I've had in a long time. I have tried to get them to stop messaging me but their system persists. I have no doubt they are also selling my contact information to other entities and it feels like I have ruined my email account by engaging with this product. Extremely disappointing. 😔
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi David,
We appreciate your feedback regarding your recent canal tour experience, and we're delighted to hear that you found it lovely.
However, we deeply regret any inconvenience you've faced with our booking platform, and we sincerely apologize for the issues you've encountered with our messaging system. We take your concerns seriously, and it's not the experience we intend to provide to our users.
Rest assured, we value your privacy and the security of your contact information. We will investigate your concerns to ensure that such problems are addressed promptly and that your experience is improved.
We're truly sorry for the disappointment you've experienced, and we hope that your future interactions with our platform will be significantly smoother and more enjoyable.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we appreciate your understanding.
Warm regards,
Jessie - Front Office Management, Flagship Amsterdam
Paula_K, Sep 2023
Excellent commentary from staff, really informative. Enjoyable trip.
Value for money booking online before trip.
Dianne_M, Aug 2023
The cost of the tour was 18.50€ at the boat and paying online was 28€. The cruise was booked as Flying Dutchman but there was no Flying Dutchman kiosk at Rikjmuseum and no other operator knew where they were. We clicked the link to the meeting place and ended up having to walk 20 minutes to no place where there was a canal cruise kiosk. Finally entered Flying Dutchman Canal Cruise into Google maps and ended up walking another 20 minutes to the Anne Frank House location. There, a rep from another company honored our ticket. My LAST time booking with Viator.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Hi there,
Our deepest apologies for the disappointing experience you had during your recent cruise with us. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us as it helps us identify areas for improvement, and we take your concerns seriously. It is clear that we fell short of meeting your expectations in several aspects of your experience, and for that, I am truly sorry.
We are genuinely sorry to hear about the discrepancy in pricing you mentioned between booking online and purchasing tickets at the boat. We are committed to offering fair and transparent pricing to our guests, and this issue will be investigated to ensure it does not happen in the future.
Moreover, the confusion regarding the meeting point is a matter of concern for us. We strive to make our tours as accessible and convenient as possible, and it is clear that we fell short of that goal on this occasion. We appreciate your feedback as it helps us identify areas where improvements are needed. I understand how frustrating it must have been to arrive and that you can't find the company and then walk 20 minutes and another 20 minutes.
To rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences of similar issues, we kindly request your assistance. If you could provide us with the incorrect information or link that led you to the wrong meeting place, we would greatly appreciate it. You can send this information to customersupport@flagshipamsterdam.com, and we will investigate and update our records to ensure that such confusion does not arise for our guests in the future.
Given the circumstances, we would like to offer you a solution that we hope will relieve some of the frustration you've experienced. We would like to offer you a full refund. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to finding a way to make this experience right for you. Please reach out to us at customersupport@flagshipamsterdam.com to discuss the best way forward for you.
Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Your feedback is helping us to better understand the areas we need to work on.
Warm regards,
Jessie - Front Office Management, Flagship Amsterdam
Dawn_H, Jul 2023
I was surprised at how old the buildings along the canals were because they are in such good shape! Amsterdam truly.cares about preserving their history.
kathleen_b, Jun 2023
not enough tour guide historical and story telling .. too many periods of silence … we went to learn about history of amsterdam and canals and do t feel we got enough
Verena_B, May 2023
Perfekt!
The Host was was nice and funny. We had perfect weather. So dot. Forget the sunscreen or hat!it is an open boat!
Mariane_M, Dec 2022
Hey Viator, I need a refund.
This Tour operator did not turn up.
He should atleast cancel our tour if he knows he's not operating.
What a scam!
Crystal_B, Sep 2022
The experience was great and I must say the staff on this cruise which is skipper Florence and Host Nadine R was very welcoming, polite and very informative. She willing took pictures for my partner and I. There is a bar also where you can purchase drinks and other stuff. We got there close to the time but the cruise was still there waiting around a bit. Also if you are running late don’t be scared you can show your tickets to the cruise members and maybe catch a other boat trip seeing there are loads of other boats from this same company waiting and ready to take you on your journey. The boat is an open on just like the picture and it felt amazing to see everything out in the open. Thanks again for an amazing cruise Florence and Nadine R
Surbhi_M, Aug 2022
Great experience, the hosts were very good. They gave great insight during the tour. Lovely views too
Felicity_E, Jul 2022
Lovely cocktails, friendly & helpful staff, interesting commentary, clearly presented with questions answered easily. Comfortable & clean boat.
Dominika_K, Jul 2022
We really enjoyed the boat tour as a perfect ending to our last day in Amsterdam! The guides were amazing as well as the boat which was also very comfortable. The bar is just a perfect addition so we could enjoy a drink while listening to interesting stories and seeing beautiful architecture from the boat! Definitely a "must see' while in Amsterdam!
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Amsterdam Light Festival: Saloon Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite
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