01/10/2026
The real reason to visit Amsterdam this winter? ✨
Amsterdam Light Festival lights up the city with art, light and connection. And here at Die Port van Cleve, we’ve had a thing for light since 1879… 💡
Long before the canals became a canvas for light art, our b**r house was already making headlines with electric light.
In January 1879, the Hulscher brothers installed six ‘Jasper Arc’ lamps at Die Port van Cleve. Electric lighting was still a remarkable novelty, and the new lights attracted visitors from across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam’s mayor and other prominent figures, all eager to witness this new technology for themselves.
Today, this moment in our history lives on in one of the themes of our hotel rooms, inspired by the time when Die Port van Cleve became one of the first bars to feature electric lighting.
And now, almost 150 years later, Amsterdam is lighting up once again.
As an official hotel partner of Amsterdam Light Festival, we’re perfectly placed to discover the artworks along Amsterdam’s canals, whether by boat or on foot. The festival runs from 26 November to 17 January, and tickets are available from today.
So, who would you bring along for an evening of light, art and a stay in Amsterdam? 👀✨
Amsterdam Light Festival