TopRow Night of Lights

TopRow Night of Lights: rowing tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival

See Amsterdam in a different light!

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 14 October.

In November, December and January, Amsterdam turns into a fairytale city full of light. That is the season for an Amsterdam Light Festival rowing tour. And what could be more magical than taking in that night-time atmosphere from a rowing boat? This year TopRow is once again organising the enchanting Night of Lights rowing tour, this season during the fifteenth edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival.

On this unique tour you row along part of the Amsterdam Light Festival route, past iconic illuminated landmarks such as Carré, the Magere Brug and NEMO. You do not cover the whole festival route, but you do see the stretch that only looks like this from the water. An unforgettable experience on the water!

You row in classic coxed fours, sculling by default. Prefer sweep rowing? No problem – just let us know when you book. Every boat is steered by an experienced TopRow instructor, who also acts as your guide on the water.

📍Start and finish: TopRow Amsterdam
🎟️ At least one year of rowing experience is required
🥤 Your ticket includes a drink and a bite to eat at TopRow

New this season: more Thursdays
Feedback from previous seasons told us the water could feel crowded. Thursdays are noticeably quieter than Fridays, and certainly quieter than Saturdays: the same route, the same light artworks, more space around you. That is why we have deliberately put more Thursdays in the calendar this season, and they are also the best-value evenings of the season.

Please note:
– Tickets cannot be exchanged for another date or time
– No refund is given if you cancel your booking
– If we have to cancel, for instance because of ice or a storm, you get your money back
– Are there 4 places or fewer left on an evening? Then your group may be split over more than one boat. We keep groups together as much as possible, in order of booking

Dates 2026/2027:
27 and 28 November
3, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 December
28, 29 and 30 December (Christmas week)
2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 January

Thursdays, the quietest evenings: 3, 10 and 17 December, 7 and 14 January

Booking opens on Wednesday 14 October. Last season, demand for the Friday and Saturday evenings in January was higher than the number of places available.