Amsterdam Light Festival 2013-2014

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This winter, Amsterdam will once again be transformed into a capital of light. Amsterdam Light Festival will take place from 6 December 2013 to 19 January 2014.

Two routes have been created (a walking route and a boat route) that take visitors on a visual journey past international light artworks. Google Map amsterdam with the Tour Amsterdam Light Festival

“The partnerships have been organized to promote tourism in Amsterdam in the darkest and coldest months of the year. Together with our partners, we offer an attractive and surprising program for both our international and national visitors,” says Raymond Borsboom, director of Amsterdam Light Festival.

Museums
Many of the city’s museums are partners of Amsterdam Light Festival.

Rijksmuseum
The tunnel of the Rijksmuseum is the setting for The Light Battle, an interactive battle between opposing groups of bicycles by VENIVEDIMULTIPLEX. With an arch of light between them, participants must peddle to push the respective colors away from each other.

Stedelijk Museum
Light art is often considered a new art form, but is that true? American minimalist artist Dan Flavin (1933-1996), for example, started working with light in 1963. His work is exhibited as part of the Stedelijk Museum’s permanent collection. During the festival, inspiring presentations will be held about light art as a new art discipline.

Foam
Amsterdam’s photography museum, Foam, will present a retrospective of the work of American photographer and filmmaker William Klein (1928). He created several abstract works using light that have not previously been exhibited in the Netherlands.

Jewish Cultural Quarter
During the festival, letters of will be projected on the façade of the Hollandsche Schouwburg. Vaarwel / Last Words is a project of artists Machteld Aardse and Femke Kempkes. These letters, written by Jews who were forcibly detained in the Hollandsche Schouwburg in the period 1942 to 1943, present the often-inconceivable wartime experiences in the public space.

Events
Several events and concerts will also be organized during the festival.

Grachtenfestival – 5 December to16 January
The Grachtenfestival Winterspecial will take place from 5 December 2013 to 16 January 2014. Six young talented musicians have been given the opportunity to compose their ideal musical performance. The festival covers music from baroque to modern classical music. Each concert will be accompanied with unique lighting arranged by De Theatermachine.

Light My Ride – January 9
On 9 January 2014, the second edition of Light My Ride will take place. With more than 500 participants on decorated bicycles, rollerblades or skateboards, the tour will be sure to light up the city’s streets. The event is accompanied by DJs and a BMX-riders show.

Amsterdamse Hotelnacht – January 18 & 19
Take a vacation, in your own city? The annual Amsterdam Hotel Night will be held on 18 and 19 January in more than 50 hotels across the city. These hotels offer rooms for appealing prices and will host special events ranging from high teas and spa treatments. Sleep in one of the many hotels along the Illuminade walking route, and you may look out on one of the festival’s light artworks.

About the Festival
Amsterdam Light Festival is a winter light festival for all. The historical center of Amsterdam presents a unique décor for this light and water festival. Light sculptures and projections corresponding to the theme, ‘Building with Light’ have been created by contemporary (international) artists for the open space. The boat route, Water Colors, will exhibit artworks along the Amsterdam Canals and the Amstel (6 December 2013 to 19 January 2014). The walking route, Illuminade, will take place in Amsterdam’s city center (12 December 2013 to 5 January 2014).

The festival ‘enlightens’ the public with colorful and engaging artworks, and will take place from Friday 6 December 2013 to Sunday 19 January 2014. For more information, visit www.amsterdamlightfestival.com.

Specials
During the festival it will be possible to combine your visit to Amsterdam Light Festival with one of our specials. Amsterdam Light Festival has a wide range of specials to appeal to all, from a dinner and a boat cruise along the Water Colors boat route, to a shopping route in the center that combines several of the festival’s artworks with the nicest shops and boutiques in the city. For an overview of all our specials, please visit www.amsterdamlightfestival.com/specials.