FAQ Amsterdam Light Festival

Bookings and Reservations

Do I have to make a reservation?
We highly recommend booking online in advance. It is also possible to purchase tickets directly at any of the departure locations. Nevertheless, if you purchase them on the spot, we cannot make any guarantees tickets will be available on the day and time of your preference.

After making a reservation, how do I receive my tickets?
After placing an order, you will first receive an order confirmation with the details of your booking, and after a few minutes, you will receive a second email with your tickets attached.

I made a booking but have not yet received my Order Confirmation and/or ticket?
If you have not received your order confirmation within an hour from booking please check your spam folder. If you still do not see the confirmation, send us an email to hello@lovers.nl include the details you used to make the booking.

Can I change my booking?
Yes, that is possible up to 24 hours in advance. Depending on availability, you can change your reservation. You can do this through the following link: Self-rebook.

Can I cancel my booking?
If you bought your tickets directly from us please see the product page for the cancellation of your booking. If you purchased your tickets through a reseller (such as Actie van de dag, Groupon, etc.) we kindly ask you to contact them directly.

Can I also make a reservation by phone or via email?
No, you can only book online, at the Lovers Canal Cruises selling points and/or at the Tours and Tickets shop at Damrak 26.

Can I upgrade my regular 1-hour canal cruise ticket to an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise ticket?
Yes, but only at physical stores at Prins Hendrikkade 25 and Damrak 26 (Tours & Tickets) and when the ticket has been bought directly with LOVERS Canal Cruises or Tours & Tickets without a discount code.

I have lost something in one of your cruises, who can I contact?
If you've lost something you can send us an email at hello@lovers.nl 

Departure point

From which dock do the cruises depart?
That will depend on the cruise you have chosen, please check the product page or the address written on your ticket.

How long in advance do I need to be at the departure point?
You need to be present at your departure location at least 15 minutes in advance (even with time-slot tickets, waiting times might apply).

Can I change the departure location?
No, this is not possible.

What is the child ticket policy?
● 0 up to and including 3 years: free of charge
● 4 up to and including 13 years: child price
● From 14+ an adult price will apply

Can I give my tickets to a friend or relative?
Yes, the tickets are not bound by name and can be used by friends or relatives.

Do I need to print my e-ticket?
No, it is not necessary to print your e-ticket. It is possible to show your ticket from your smartphone or any other electronic device.

Coupon codes & promotions

I have a discount code, how can I use it to book my tickets?
After you have selected the date, time and amount of tickets, the voucher code can be entered in your cart. After this, the payable amount will automatically be adjusted.

My discount code is not working, what should I do?
Please contact the company where you received the codes from. You can also contact us at hello@lovers.nl if you do please attach a copy of your vouchers and mention the date and time you would like to join the cruise.

From when can I buy an Amsterdam Light Festival ticket with my Stadspas?
From 22 October 2024 it is possible to buy an Amsterdam Light Festival ticket with the Stadspas.

How can I buy a ticket for me and my friend with my Stadspas?
Your Stadspas number and pincode function as a discount code. See more information here (in Dutch).

Groups

Can I make a group booking?
Yes, we have two different types of group bookings available.
The first option is a private boat. You can arrange a private boat between 17:00 hours and 21:00 hours. The max. capacity per boot is 80 pax.  
The second option is to join a regular Amsterdam Light Festival cruise. In this case there will also be other guests on the boat. For this option we also cannot guarantee that groups are always sat together because we have multiple boats per timeslot.
To process your request, we need the following information: desired date / desired time / group size. For requests or for more information you can send an email to groups@tourismgroup.com.

Onboard

Will the cruise be guided?
There is an audio guide (in English and Dutch) in our boats.

Can you get off the boat anywhere?
No, you may only exit the boat when the cruise has finished.

Is there heating on board?
Yes, our closed boats are heated. However, we do advise to dress warmly and to also bring an umbrella (just in case) for the time between arrival at the quay and the boat’s departure.

Is there a bar on board?
No, there is no bar on board.

Can I take a stroller/wheelchair on board?
Our boats are accessible to disabled people when they can stand and walk up and down a couple of steps to get in and out of the boat unassisted. A wheelchair/stroller can't be taken on board. The wheelchair/stroller can be safely placed on the quayside when the canal cruise departs from Prins Hendrikkade 25 (please note we are not responsible for personal belongings).

Can I bring my dog on board?
No, unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on board (with the exception of service dogs).

Is there a toilet on board?
Most of our boats do have a toilet, however we cannot guarantee that there will be one on the boat you will be on. You can, however, when at the LOVERS quay by Central Station use the restrooms at the LOVERS Café (€0.50). Semi-open boats do not have toilets on board.

Can I bring food/drinks on board?
No, you cannot bring food and drinks on board (except for the food and drinks you bought at the dock).

How to get there?

How can I get there with public transportation?
We advise you to take a look at: 9292.nl/en where you can plan your journey within The Netherlands with real-time and prices. 

Where can I park my car?
Please note parking is not included. These are just suggestions on available parking close to the LOVERS quay near Central Station.

Amsterdam Light Festival

Where can I find more information about the Amsterdam Light Festival?
You can find more information here: amsterdamlightfestival.com

What is this year’s theme?
This year’s theme is “Rituals”. 

How many exhibits can I see from the boat?
There are about 25 light artworks and installations in total. From our boats, you will be able to see all of them.

When does the Light Festival start?
The festival is active from the 28 November 2024 until the 19 January 2025.