Evening cruises, covered boats, museums and indoor lights for December and January.
Plan ahead: this is a seasonal page — the dates and tickets below are for the coming season.
Things to do in Amsterdam in winter: what to book
In winter, Amsterdam is about evening and indoor plans: a canal cruise past the Amsterdam Light Festival artworks, a covered saloon boat, a cruise with cheese and wine or cocktails, a museum with a reserved entry time, or an indoor room full of lights and lasers. This guide is for visitors coming in December and January booking ahead.
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile ticket
How to choose
Cruise the Light Festival route
Cruises along the Light Festival route, which runs from 26 Nov to 17 Jan.
Covered boats with food or drinks
Covered boats that serve food or drinks.
Museums with a timed entry
Museums where you book a timed entry.
Indoor lights and lasers
Indoor experiences with lights and lasers.
Our top picks
Live prices, instant confirmation.
Cheese & Wine Cruise
Sail through Amsterdam's UNESCO canals for 1.5 hours while sampling a cheese platter and selected wines in intimate lighting. Adults only (18+).
Why here: Dutch cheese platter and selected wines over 90 minutes, from Damrak 13. 18+ only, bring a valid ID.
Premium ChoiceCocktail Cruise Amsterdam
Sipping cocktails while cruising through the world-famous canals, sounds like a night to remember! The Amsterdam night tour with cocktail bar is the perfect nighttime activity.
Why here: Cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, with nachos on a night tour along the lit canals. 18+ only.
Signature Boats Amsterdam Saloon cruise
Sail Amsterdam's narrower canals on a 1.5-hour luxury saloon cruise for up to 12 guests, where a live guide shares stories from the city's history. This intimate boat tour reaches corners larger vessels can't, taking you through the Jordan district, past the Westerkerk, and along the Amstel.
Why here: Covered saloon boat with a live guide in English, up to 12 guests, from Leidsebosje 2 near Leidseplein.
Premium ChoiceEntrance Ticket Rijksmuseum
Discover Dutch masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer and more. Choose your visiting time.
Why here: Rembrandt, Vermeer and 8000 artworks; reserved entry time for everyone, children aged 0 to 18 free.
Moco Museum Entrance Ticket
Modern, contemporary and digital art in a charming townhouse at Museumplein.
Why here: Banksy, Warhol, Haring, Basquiat and Kusama in a townhouse at Museumplein; self-guided, 60 minutes.
Scheepvaart Museum Entrance Ticket
Explore the Netherlands' maritime past through ship models, nautical instruments, and interactive displays at this 17th-century museum. The main attraction: board a full-size replica of the 18th-century VOC ship Amsterdam and walk through its historic decks.
Why here: Walk through the full-size replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam; glass-roofed courtyard at Kattenburgerplein 1.
Premium ChoiceAmaze Amsterdam Entrance Ticket
Walk through interactive rooms filled with lasers, lights, and visual effects at this immersive experience in a former nightclub. Each door opens onto a new space designed to engage your senses and spark imagination.
Why here: Indoor rooms of lights, lasers and smoke in a former nightclub; 75 minutes with a pre-booked time slot.
Plan your visit
Departure points
Damrak · Departure point: Leidsebosje 2, one minute's walk from Leidseplein. · Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam · Moco Museum
18+
Some experiences are 18+
Good to know
- Want to see the lit artworks from the water? Pick a date for the Light Festival cruise between 26 November 2026 and 17 January 2027.
- Out on 31 December? The festival lights close at 9:00 pm that evening instead of 11:00 pm.
- Booking the Cheese & Wine Cruise? It is 18+ only, so bring a valid ID.
- The Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum, Scheepvaart Museum and Amaze Amsterdam tickets are non-refundable, so fix your plans before you book them.
- Food and drinks are not included on the Light Festival cruise; on the Cheese & Wine and Cocktail cruises they are part of the trip.
This guide brings Amsterdam's winter options together on one page. On the water, you choose between the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, the covered Signature Boats Amsterdam Saloon cruise, the Cheese & Wine Cruise and the Cocktail Cruise Amsterdam. On land, there are Dutch masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum, digital art at Moco, a ship you can walk through at the Scheepvaart Museum and rooms full of lasers at Amaze Amsterdam. Light Festival Edition 15 runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. We are a Dutch partner with local knowledge, and everything here is in one place, so you can sort out your winter plans and get back to exploring the city.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026–2027?
Edition 15 runs from Thursday 26 November 2026 until Sunday 17 January 2027. The lights are on every day from 4:30 pm until 11:00 pm; on 31 December the festival closes at 9:00 pm.
How long is the Amsterdam Light Festival cruise and where does it start?
The cruise takes 90 minutes and departs from the Amsterdam-North departure point. It passes 20 illuminated artworks on a 100% electric canal boat. Food and beverages and a guide or commentary on board are not included.
Which cruise has a covered boat?
The Signature Boats Amsterdam Saloon cruise uses a covered saloon boat, so you relax indoors. It has a live guide on board in English, takes up to 12 guests and leaves from Leidsebosje 2, one minute's walk from Leidseplein.
Can I cancel my winter booking?
The Amsterdam Light Festival cruise, the Cheese & Wine Cruise and the Signature Boats Amsterdam Saloon cruise have free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. For the Cocktail Cruise Amsterdam, the operator's own terms apply: free up to 24 hours before the start. The Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum, Scheepvaart Museum and Amaze Amsterdam tickets are non-refundable.
Do I need to book a time slot?
At the Rijksmuseum, a reserved entry time is mandatory for everyone. Amaze Amsterdam gives access only with a pre-booked time slot.
What are the age rules for children?
At the Rijksmuseum, children aged 0 to 18 enter free. At the Scheepvaart Museum, children up to and including 4 years are free and ages 5 to 17 pay a reduced rate. Amaze Amsterdam recommends a minimum age of 10, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The Cheese & Wine Cruise and the Cocktail Cruise Amsterdam have a minimum age of 18, as alcohol is served.