November 2025
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Amsterdam, your favourite canal city, is about to undergo its annual winter transformation, and trust me, you need to be here. Forget the winter blues, from November 27, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the Dutch capital’s historic waterways will blaze with creativity as the Amsterdam Light Festival (ALF) returns for its 14th edition!
If you’re planning a winter trip, mark these dates, grab your warmest coat, and prepare for a spectacle where light, art, and the city’s stunning architecture come together in a truly unforgettable way.
Edition 14: What Legacy Will You Leave?
This year’s festival, Edition 14, is curated around the powerful theme of “Legacy.”
More than 20 international artists have been challenged to explore questions like: How do we want to be remembered? and What do we leave behind for future generations? The resulting artworks promise to be a fascinating blend of the monumental and the intimate—installations that remind us that the marks we leave are not always tangible, but live on as memories, traditions, and ideas.
Expect to see light installations that weave effortlessly into the 17th-century backdrop, using the water’s reflection to double their impact, creating a temporary, living archive of emotions and values right on the canals.
You can read more about the makers of this years exhibits at the bottom of the post.
The Best Ways to Experience the Art
The great news about the Amsterdam Light Festival is that it’s designed for multiple perspectives:
1. By Boat (The Classic Experience)
Cruising the canals is, hands down, the most immersive way to experience the festival. The artworks are specifically designed to be seen from the water, often integrated perfectly with the bridges and riverbanks.
- Pro Tip: Book a canal cruise early! Most tours last about 75 minutes and include commentary explaining the artists’ vision for each piece. It’s warm, cozy, and you get a clear view of all 20+ installations.
2. On Foot (The Self-Guided Adventure)
If you prefer to move at your own pace, the official walking route is the perfect option.
- Route Length: Approximately 6.5 kilometers.
- Time: Allow 2 to 3 hours, depending on how many stops you make for photos (and glühwein!).
- The Key: While the outdoor exhibition is free to view, the official, detailed walking route map (complete with artwork descriptions and directions) is available digitally from the festival’s official website for a small fee. It’s highly recommended for the best experience!
3. By Bicycle (The Dutch Way)
For the true local experience, cycle the route! Just remember that winter cycling can be cold, and you must respect local traffic rules and pedestrians.
The Essential Walking Route: A 6.5 km Journey
Based on the traditional ALF route that follows the canal belt and the Amstel river, here is the suggested walking journey to guide your 2025/2026 adventure.
Duration: ~2.5 hours (plus stops)
Start Time: Begin around 5:00 PM to catch the full lighting.
Phase 1: The Eastern Start (Oosterdok/Oostelijke Eilanden)
- Suggested Start Point: Begin your journey near Amsterdam Centraal Station.
- Head East towards the Oosterdok and the Science Museum NEMO. The opening installations often feature large-scale pieces over or floating in the water near the museum.
- Cross the bridge and continue into the historic Plantage district (home to the Botanical Garden and Artis Zoo), where the route usually curves inland and back toward the Amstel River.
Phase 2: Along the Amstel River
- This is the centerpiece of the festival. Follow the route South until you reach the magnificent Amstel River.
- Keep an eye out for artworks reflected in the dark water as you pass iconic sites like the grand Amstel Hotel.
- Look for the famous Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), which is always a focal point for the light artists.
Phase 3: The Canal Belt (Grachtengordel)
- The route then typically weaves through the famous Southern Grachtengordel (Canal Belt), crossing the Herengracht and Keizersgracht. This is where the light interacts beautifully with the stately canal houses.
- Information Hub: Be sure to stop by the official Information Point located at the Blauwbrug (Blue Bridge) over the Amstel River, especially if you need to pick up a physical guide or a hot drink.
Phase 4: The Final Stretch
- Loop back North toward the city center, taking in the final installations. The walk concludes beautifully, leaving you perfectly situated near Rembrandtplein or Waterlooplein for dinner or a celebratory hot beverage.
Practical Details & Essential Tips
| Detail | Information (Edition 14: Legacy) |
| Dates | November 27, 2025 – January 18, 2026 |
| Theme | Legacy |
| Lights On | 4:30 PM (Nov 27 – Jan 4) & 5:00 PM (Jan 5 – Jan 18) |
| Lights Off | 10:00 PM (Sun – Tue) & 11:00 PM (Wed – Sat) |
| Christmas Holidays | Lights are on until 11:00 PM every day (Dec 20 – Jan 4) |
| New Year’s Eve | The lights go out early at 9:00 PM (Dec 31st) |
| Walking Route Map | Available digitally for purchase via the official Amsterdam Light Festival website. |
Our Tips:
- Dress in Layers: It gets seriously chilly on the canals at night. Hats, scarves, and gloves are non-negotiable.
- Go Early: The quietest time is often right when the lights turn on (4:30 PM/5:00 PM) on a weekday and it’s dark already so you may as well make the most of it.
- Reflections are Key: Look down! The whole experience is doubled by the dark canal water. You get two artworks for the price of one!
- Try the Foodwalk: Keep an eye out for the new “Foodwalk” option, which allows you to pick up culinary treats along the walking route to keep you warm and energised!
Whether you choose a cozy cruise or a bracing walk, the 14th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival is poised to be a magical journey through light, water, and history. See you there!
Check out the makers below…
Amsterdam | Barcelona | Chicago | Cologne | Gran Canaria | Iceland | Lisbon | London | Madrid | Munich | Paris | Porto | Randstad | Sitges | Sydney | Washington DC
The art is the heart of the Amsterdam Light Festival, and Edition 14’s theme, “Legacy,” has drawn an incredible lineup of international talent. It’s not just about pretty lights; it’s about deep artistic reflection, with each installation posing a unique answer to the question: What do we leave behind?
Here’s a look at some of the brilliant minds—from architects to philosophers—who will be illuminating Amsterdam’s canals this winter:
Meet the Makers of Legacy: Edition 14 Artists
This year’s collection features over twenty artworks, each turning the city’s historic landscape into a canvas for contemporary thought. The chosen artists span continents and disciplines, ensuring a rich and varied journey.
The Philosophers and Activists
Artists who use their installations to start a dialogue on social and societal legacy are always a festival highlight.
- Alicia Eggert (US): Known for her captivating, text-based neon works, Eggert merges physics and philosophy. Her art often gives material form to language and time, increasingly focusing on themes of political activism and social justice. Her contribution is sure to leave a lasting textual impression on the canals, forcing us to read between the lights.
- Marinella Senatore (IT): With a background spanning music, fine arts, and cinema, Senatore centers her practice on collective engagement and social interaction. She uses light as a medium for storytelling and as an instrument for resistance and cohesion, exploring how our shared cultural legacy binds us together.
- Pavol Truben (SK): A visual artist who often tackles current social issues with a subtle dose of irony. His work for Edition 14 will likely use light to reflect critically on the inherited problems and societal structures we pass down.
The Architects and Storytellers
Many artists this year are masterfully integrating their designs into the very fabric of Amsterdam’s urban environment, creating architectural legacies of their own.
- Xinyi Wang (AU): As an architect and artist, Wang’s focus is on meaning and what story the location wants to tell. His process uses poetry, research, and craft to create an experience that is deeply connected to its specific setting, ensuring the artwork’s legacy is tied to the spirit of the place.
- Beeldjutters (NL): This Dutch collective is famous for crafting poetic installations at the intersection of light art and theatre. They are experts at taking complex, historical subjects and translating them into accessible, visual experiences that speak to mass audiences—the perfect way to communicate a concept like “legacy.”
- M Moser Associates (US/UK): Representing a unique blend of architecture, engineering, and construction, this team brings a corporate focus on the human experience. Their interdisciplinary approach—mixing art, science, and technology—promises a technically ambitious and impactful piece that reflects the legacy of innovation.
Exploring Fragility and Transformation
The most poignant light installations often explore concepts of transience—how light and memory fade.
- Lynne Leegte (NL): Her work, which spans photography and sculpture, is noted for its sense of tranquility and melancholy, often evoking themes of reflection and transience. Using fragile materials like alabaster and paper, Leegte reminds us that legacy can be found in ephemeral beauty and shared, quiet memories.
- Thomas Bendiksen (NO): A seasoned lighting designer, Bendiksen is fascinated by how light impacts our experiences. In line with the theme, his pieces frequently touch upon sustainability and the relationship between humans and nature, questioning the environmental legacy we are shaping.
Whether you’re drawn to the large-scale projections or the quiet, poetic sculptures, the artists of Edition 14 promise a powerful and memorable winter journey. Each installation is a unique thought illuminated, inviting you to reflect on your own mark on the world.
