Be Wowed by the Amsterdam Light Festival

The spectacular Amsterdam Light Festival will wow you if you thought the city's architecture was stunning. Throughout the months of December and January, the city is occupied by a large outdoor exhibition that lines its canals and winding streets with giant light sculptures that will make you gasp in wonder.

The first festival was held in 2012, and since then, it has developed into the much anticipated and loved event that it is today. One of the top free things to do in Amsterdam, the incredible light sculptures draw about a million tourists a year to see them firsthand. Visitors will be astounded by the creative works of art that light the capital each winter, which range from a giant house of cards to life-size models of people sitting on a park bench to a display of bacteria-fighting the E. coli virus. Some of them even have music. The exhibits change in size and theme every year. While the canal route tempts visitors to travel by boat to marvel at the complex displays in, around, and over the picturesque waterways, the walking route invites them to explore the dramatic works on foot. You'll never again view holiday lights in the same way.