It's time to leave again swoon about the Amsterdam canals: Amsterdam Light Festival is AAN. And literally, because today the lights of more than 100,000 people were officially turned on 35 luminous works of art along the Amsterdam canals. While the Amsterdam calendar is full of festivals in the summer, there is much less to do in the winter. This is how it came about amsterdam light festival, to make those cold winters a little more bearable. From December 1 to January 22, 2017, the lights will turn on every day at 17:00 PM and remain on until 23:00 PM. From the water you follow the Water Colors route, with this year's theme View on Amsterdam. The route takes you past impressive light artworks, specially designed for the festival by top international talent. Like the large, brightly discolouring ones tulips by Hungarian artist Peter Koros, or the great work of art Nexus, the eye-catcher of the festival (which you have probably already seen on posters) created by Hungarian Viktor Vicsek. It consists of different colored light pipes that appear to emerge from the water and reach towards the sky. One and all colour so in the water this year.

One of the impressive installations at the festival is by Dutchman Reier Pos, who showed us laser light on the Maritime Museum shows the original blueprint of the building. In this way, laser by laser, the Maritime Museum is formed, impressive from the water and certainly worth a closer look. With this work of art you have to secretly keep your fingers crossed for a rain shower, because raindrops give the laser beams a... magic diamonds effect. And speaking of magical effect, work of art Lightwaves from laboratory Forces for Architecture moves with the wind and sparkles as the wind blows harder.

Image: Choi+Shine Architects

And we can go on like this for a while, because you continue to be amazed from the water. For example, you sail under a 650 kilo lace old North Holland hood, which despite its weight seems to float above the water like a lacy flying carpet. And you sail past a light installation that is fully incorporated in a row of old trees along the canal. The strings of light (wisp in English, as is the title of this artwork by French design studio Pitaya) seem to dance around the tree and give the whole thing a magical effect along the water.

Of course you can't just admire the festival from the water, some works of art are ideal for quiet study on land instead of from the boat. This also applies to the installation by Dutch architect and designer Laurent de Wolf, which in the form of three windows creates a surreal and... sinister scene projects, making it seem as if you are looking inside a canal house where mysterious things are happening. Voyeuristic to the max. And while the large works of art in the water immediately grab you and pass you by, you can also opt for a smaller, more interactive approach Amsterdam Light Festival. The walking route runs there from December 15 to January 8, 2017 Illuminade. This route – inspired by the nature – guides you past more than 20 light artworks through the Weesper and Plantage neighborhoods. By flying green piggies to large eyeballs that stare at you and follow you from the ground (chosen by the Children's Jury), here you walk through the works of art and you can quietly let them sink in.

Image: Robin Noorda

And there's more! More color, more light, more Amsterdam – A rainbow! A laser artwork underwater! The neon-colored dog that lifts its paw (light, see what we did there) above the canal! The kaleidoscopic images projected on spraying water droplets! The traveling souvenir shop! (“Memories are souvenirs too”) A few selected illuminated bicycles from the collection of 15.000 bicycles that are fished out of the canal every year! – but the easiest way to see everything is to just get on the boat and feast your eyes.

Many shipping companies offer a tour of the canals on their website amsterdam light festival you will find the official partners and providers. For example, on one boat you will be informed about all the works of art by one live, your guides or enjoy a different boat luxury a drink. So you can fill it in completely to your own taste, but they all sail past the lights in any case ;) You can recognize the participating boats by the official Amsterdam Light Festival logo and accompanying flag, but booking online is just as easy. amsterdam light festival.