A must-see this winter is the fourth edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival. The annual event showcases light art installations in, around and above the canals in Amsterdam. Previous years I visited the light art installations on foot. This year however, I chose to enjoy the festival from the water, which was a fantastic experience. You get to experience the festival from another, more intimate perspective, but also you get to see Amsterdam in its full galore at night with all the Christmas decorations and lit facades and bridges. The Blue Boat Company is the preferred choice for the Water Color Cruise because it is the only company with a live guide on board who tells about the background of the works of art. Unfortunately I missed all that because I was on deck taking photos.
The artists this year were challenged to create a particular light art work on the theme ‘Friendship’. The Watercolors Cruise Blue Boat Company takes you in 75 or 90 minutes along the various spectacular light artworks above, in and around the water. The Herengracht e.g. is lit by beautiful chandeliers and later on you can admire two huge luminous heads in the water talking with each other and with visitors in several languages. Most of the light art works are moving, changing colors, or interactive, hence photos can’t really capture the beauty and the story. I posted 2 videos on my instagram which you can watch here and here.
Prices and bookings
Tickets for the Amsterdam Light Festival Water Colors Cruise are € 20,50 and are available through the website and at the entrance of Blue Boat Company. You can also buy a cruise & Dinner combi ticket which includes a burger menu at the Hardrock Cafe for € 42,50.
From Thursday, November 26th, 2015 until Sunday, January 7th, 2016 the tour boats depart every day at 17:30, 18:00, 19:30 and at 20:00 hrs. At weekends and during the Christmas holidays the boats also depart at 18:30, 19:00, 20:30 and 21:00 hrs. The Water Colors Cruise boats leave in front of the Hard Rock Cafe from Stadhouderskade 30 in Amsterdam. Snacks and drinks can be purchased on board.
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