After almost half a year living in Amsterdam I could not be any happier. Every weekend there is something new to do. For example, a couple of weeks ago, I participated in an “Ugly Sweater Run”. Then I went to the van Gogh Museum. And later, I visited the Christmas Market. And this is right in the middle of winter, when there are barely sunlight hours. Festivals and parties happen all around the city all year long. Even though in the summer there are music festivals everywhere in the Netherlands, there is a beautiful art festival going on in Amsterdam every December. And that is the Amsterdam Light Festival!
What is the Amsterdam Light Festival
When the days are short, and by 4pm is already pitch black… The Amsterdam Light Festival arrives to the capital! Every year, from the beginning of December, the canals of the city get lighten up by several art pieces. Amsterdam itself is quite artsy. It is possible to find art almost everywhere around the city. But this pieces have all something in common: they are based on light. Even if they are projections of pictures or small lights shaping a light spider. All of the pieces will be shiny and extremely eye-catching after the sun is down.
Every year there is a specific topic. For this festival (2018 – 2019 edition), the topic of the Amsterdam Light Festival was “The Medium is the Message”. And it changes with the calendar. The months previous the festival, hundreds of artists, architects and desingers submit their pieces. Then, a selected committee decides which ones are the 30 best ones and where should be placed.
When can you visit this festival?
The Amsterdam Light Festival occurs every year at the end of the year. It usually starts either by the end of November or beginning of December and, unlike other local festivals, it lasts for about two months. Usually, you can visit the light festival until mid – January, this year until January 20th. You can find the exact dates in the website of the city of Amsterdam.
Where is exactly the Amsterdam Light Festival and how to visit the arworks?
If you have ever seen a map of Amsterdam you know that the center of the city is surrounded by canals. The area within these canals, is what is usually called the Ring. All the art pieces are located within the ring. Some of them you can visit walking through the streets. Others can only be appreciated in the way the artist meant them to be if you are cruising the canals.
If you have a few days, it would be a nice idea to just spend the first day walking through the streets and discovering unexpected art pieces. Then, the second day you can do some research and look for those artworks that you did not see the previous day. And maybe take a boat cruise the following day. If you do not have time to waste, or if you just want to visit many other things, a boat cruise is your best choices.
I used the company “Stromma” (not sponsored or affiliate link). There was a discount and it cost us 15€. Even though I loved the experience, it had rained a bit before our departing time, and because it was a covered glass boat, there was a big part of the decorations I could not appreciate… There were raindrops everywhere. Another problem was the condensation. It was very cold outside, and we were many people inside. Because of that, there was a fine layer of condensation covering the walls and ceiling. Finally, another problem associated with enjoying the Amsterdam Light Festival from this type of boats is that you will only be able to see one side of the canal. If your budget allows it, try to rent a private boat and cruise the cannals on your own. The experience will be worth it.
Some art pieces from the 2018 / 2019 festival
I saw some of the pieces when I took the cruise I mentioned above. And then a few days later I went to the center to wander through the streets with the camera and found some more. There were no pieces I did not like, but by far my favourite were two of them. The first one, a beautiful light-made reproduction of the “Starry Night” of Van Gogh, it was just beautiful. The black canvas that was the city made it all shine to another level. The second one was a spider made of smaller spiders. The light was moving around the smaller spiders and it looked like it moved. And it was huge. I loved it so much! Another one that was quite nice was made out of dandelions, unfortunately, I did not manage to get nice pictures of them. Sorry!
Have you visited the Amsterdam light festival? Did you like it? Tell me more about it below!
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The Light Festival sounds so beautiful – I love seeing lights at night; it’s magical. :]
It is beautiful in here. Right now, with the amount of hours of night that we have, most of the time the city becomes something cute and magical. I cannot recommend you enough to visit! =)
This looks amazing! I especially like how they are incorporating art with the lights. Must definitely check that out when I am in Amsterdam in the future.
Make sure you come by around Christmas season then! it is only here for a few weeks then. Anyway we do have many other interesting attractions all year long.
what a nice idea, especially when it get so quickly dark outside. I feel that it gives you a warm feeling when you walk the street and it is so nicely light up all over. Just beautiful
Believe me, it is NOT warm outside… hahaha, but it compensates! it is a fantastic idea and it all looks beautiful, but of course I am partial!
Being from Australia where December is warm I have only experienced the depths of winter through December once and I LOVED it. Sadly though I didn’t make it to Amsterdam. These light sculptures give me all the more reason to visit this beautiful city in winter. Thank you for sharing.
I kind of feel the opposite, warm Christmas? What? I think I would like to experience it once but I don’t know.. I think it would be a bit weird. Maybe next time you leave when it is winter down under and you can come to our summer =)
I am as sucker for festivals and a light festival sounds like an amazing winter event. Count me in!
So cool! I love that light spider installation…the only kind of spider I’ll welcome near me! Cruising down the canals sounds like an excellent way to appreciate the art installations.
Many of the pieces can only be appreciated from the water, what makes it all a fantastic option. If you can try and rent a private boat!
Amsterdam is such a beautiful city and oh my, these lights just make it even more charming! I’d absolutely love to visit during the festival some year.
Tbh, even though I love the city at the moment, the first time I visited I really did not like it. I think it is because it was winter and cold, but it was not good. Anyway, now is one of my favs and this festival definetely makes the city warmer to the visitor!
I LOVE this. I grew up in Alaska, which is incredibly dark winters and we always had light festivals to keep people happy during the winter. Amsterdam really goes all out for their light festival. I love how they incorporate van Gogh and his art to really highlight their charming city. How fun!
Thanks! These pieces change every year but the Starry Night felt like it could stay up there all year long… what describes Amsterdam better than Van Gogh, right? Weird but cool…!
Wow! So beautiful! I love checking out festivals every time I travel somewhere new and this one looks perfect. If I’m ever in Amsterdam during this time of year, this will be a definitle stop!
You should definetely come by! it is fantastic.
I have only been to Amsterdam during the summer so I had no idea the days were so shorts! :o, To be honest, I had never heard about this festival until recently when I saw one of the pieces on Instagram, which is a shame because it looks amazing from what I can see! It’s a good idea to enjoy it from the canals, bummer you couldn’t see much though.
Well I did manage to check half of the pieces hehe. Regarding the hours of sunlight,.. well now we suffer but during the summer we have 19h of sunlight so… it is not the worst deal out there if you ask me =)
I love light festivals and didn’t know there is one in Amsterdam! I won’t be able to visit this year but I already know what to do next December!
We will be here waiting (probably with a new blogpost)
Awww this reminds me how much I love Amsterdam! I really have to visit more often. Where else in the world can you get both avant-garde art installations and an ugly sweater run?!
Amen to that hahaha. It is the perfect combination of awesome and a weirdo. I feel quite at home here!
Looks like a great experience. I spent last year in Tilburg (South Holland) and I went to Eindhoven Glow and it was magical with all the different lights. The experience in Amsterdam seems the same. Love the photos!
Unfortunately I have still not visited Eindhoven although it is in my list, I have checked and the next Glow is in November! I will mark it down in my agenda but I have to check this out! =) Thanks for letting me know!