There’s something super special about light displays and artworks this time of year. In the upper hemisphere, the skies are getting ever darker, ever earlier, and that means there’s tons of opportunities for us to marvel at bright, colourful displays, fireworks, and more. Look anywhere above the equator during fall/autumn and winter, and you’re bound to find some form of festival to help push back the darkness.

As if you needed another excuse to head over to sample the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Netherlands and its curious capital, Amsterdam - this winter, the city is celebrating its 14th annual Light Festival, running until well after New Year. Whether you’re already heading to Europe for a winter break or are simply looking for a shiny new escape from the cold and blues, there’s still plenty of time for you to book tickets and rooms before 2026 gets too far underway.

And, of course, you should also take advantage of SIMOVO’s Netherlands eSIMs to make sure you stay connected while you’re taking it all in. Let’s take a quick look at what you can expect from the Amsterdam Light Festival this season, before we show you why investing in an eSIM is a pre-travel must.

What is the Amsterdam Light Festival?

The Amsterdam Light Festival is a yearly display of illuminated artworks that wow visitors as soon as the cold chills start to set in. This season, visitors will be able to explore illuminations along the capital’s famous canals all the way to January 18th, with the displays having been revealed back at the end of November.

As you can expect from any art exhibit, Edition 14 of the Amsterdam Light Festival has a theme, and this time around, it’s all about ‘legacy’. Specifically, the artists taking part in this year’s sculpture displays and installations have thought carefully about the things we all leave behind. Customs, stories, traditions, even earthly goods and physical marks - more than 20 international creatives have come together to share their individual thoughts and experiences on this theme with an illuminated twist!

To see the exhibits that make up the festival, simply walk through Amsterdam after dark and you’ll notice all the sculptures spring to life (or is that light?). The festival’s creators have even set up routes you can explore on foot, via bicycle, or across the canalways on cruises. Why not try all three routes if you have time?

What’s really interesting about the Amsterdam Light Festival, beyond the spectacle, is that the event is actually part of an artists’ foundation. You can buy tickets to access certain routes and donate directly to the cause via the official website before you travel. Believe it or not, more than three-quarters of the funding the festival runs on is entirely donated, sourced from collaborators, or from direct ticket sales. Visitors and generous donors help to keep cultural events and experiences like these alive!

Why You’ll Need an eSIM to Make the Most of It

Come on - you can’t tell us you want to visit the festival without taking a few photos or videos along the way? There have even been competitions for the best photos taken here over the past few years - so, why not share your own snapshots and reels with your loved ones while you’re away?

To share your adventures and to keep in touch with people back home, you’re naturally going to need a stable, speedy, and safe internet connection. While Amsterdam is replete with WiFi, public hotspots are never the safest or even the fastest options for travellers! And yet, generally, the alternative has been to keep using your usual SIM and to brace yourself for the high bills when you get home.

Choose a SIMOVO eSIM for the Netherlands, however, and you won’t have to worry about fees, safety, or speed. Simply buy a data package for however long you’re travelling, scan a QR code, and your phone or tablet will connect automatically to the best available internet network as soon as you arrive.

SIMOVO offers mobile data packages ranging from 1GB to 50GB, covering seven to 30 days respectively. That’s more than enough access to social media and IMs for your time out in Amsterdam, and if you need more, you can get in touch with our friendly team and help you top up. Once you’re out of data, you’ll never go over an allowance or run up extra fees.

Our Netherlands eSIMs give you access to Vodafone and KPN while you travel, with up to 5G connectivity and speeds available depending on where you are in the country. 

If you know you’ll need more data and want to go uninterrupted while you’re away, take a look at our Netherlands unlimited eSIMs, too. Unlimited eSIMs give you access to between 500MB and 2GB a day for up to two weeks.

Let Light Lead the Way!

There are a million and one reasons to go visit Amsterdam any time of the year. However, this December and January, the streets and canals are going to start looking a little bit more special. And, if you’re reading this before January 18th, there’s still lots of time for you to book flights, accommodation, and eSIMs - and we can certainly help you with the last of those!

Whether you’re planning a longer trip across Europe or just want to check out the lights for a night or two, SIMOVO’s own band of keen travellers want to help you get there without unexpected costs. Keeping connected when you’rea travelling is not just for the sake of socialising or for entertainment - it’s about staying safe, too. Check out our range of Netherlands eSIMs now and let light lead the way.