History Amsterdam Light Festival

BY: LEO WELLENS

This year marks the 14^th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival. Where did the initiative come from and where are the roots of this festival?

The roots of the Amsterdam Light Festival date back to 2009. Vincent Horbach, owner of Rederij Prinsengracht, was inspired by the Winterfest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Around Christmas, a cheerful light festival takes place in the warm waters around Florida. In Amsterdam, nothing happened in winter. All events took place in the summer. And Amsterdam is so beautiful in winter.

INITIATORS VINCENT HORBACH AND HENK JAN BUCHEL

In 2009, Vincent contacted Henk Jan Buchel. They then took the initiative for the first Christmas Canal Parade. The setting this year was magical. The city was covered in snow, it was Christmas Eve, and the canals were full of people.

WINTER MAGIC AMSTERDAM.

But the gentlemen want more and see the potential for the city as well as the togetherness/Christmas as an image for the city. That is why Felix Gutmann is brought in as reinforcement in 2010 to bring the festival to maturity. Subsequently, a second edition takes place in 2010, in which the emphasis is much more on artistic light art.

The name of the multi-day event was changed to WINTER MAGIC AMSTERDAM. First, there was the Christmas Canal Parade, in which boats were illuminated by well-known artists. Second, various buildings and bridges were illuminated artistically for an extended period of time.

AMSTERDAM LIGHT FESTIVAL IS BORN

In 2011, at the height of the crisis, it was decided not to hold the festival. In the meantime, these “three founding fathers” used the time to make adjustments. And so, in 2012, the Amsterdam Light Festival began. A festival name under which all winter activities could be bundled together. The focus shifted from entertainment on the boats to artistic light art along the quay.