About ALLUMINOUS

After the huge success of the first three editions of ALLUMINOUS — with 45,000 visitors last year alone — the light art festival returns this autumn break, from 17 to 26 October 2025.

ALLUMINOUS is a free festival, open every evening from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM. The route follows the path around the Weerwater lake and is approximately 5.5 kilometers long. There is no official start or end point, so you can begin your walk from any location around the lake. Walking the full route takes about 2 hours, but take your time and enjoy the food trucks and live music performances along the way.

Walking vs. Biking

To fully experience ALLUMINOUS, we recommend walking the route. For those who prefer to cycle, a bike route is available, but it differs slightly from the walking path and is not as beautifully lit. Bike racks are placed close to each artwork, so you can park your bike before walking over to view the installation. Bikes are not allowed directly next to the artworks.

The Shuttle Boat

The shuttle boat runs between the Esplanade pier and the Hortus pier, located on the former Floriade site. It's a great way to split the route in two — ideal if 5.5 km is too far — and also just a fun way to cross the lake.
Please note: this is not a sightseeing boat, it simply drops you off on the other side of the lake.

• From Esplanade Pier: departs on the hour (7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00 PM)

• From Hortus Pier: departs on the half-hour (7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 PM)

• Tickets are sold at the pier only — no online pre-sale. Limited capacity: first come, first served.

A unique artistic approach 

With so many light festivals around today, ALLUMINOUS chooses not to blend into the crowd. Instead, we’ve developed a distinctive artistic identity rooted in Almere’s strong local theatre scene. We pair visual artists with creators from local theatre companies, creating new interdisciplinary forms of light art.

The focus is always on the audience experience — the light artworks act as theatrical scenes to enter, or as objects that tell a larger story. This unique approach blends spectacle, experimentation, and storytelling, driven by experienced theatre professionals and visual artists.

Current collaborators include Almeerse theatre companies Suburbia, Vis à Vis, and BonteHond, as well as music ensemble Black Pencil, Jij bent M., and production house Carte Blanche.

Accessibility

ALLUMINOUS works with various advisors to improve accessibility each year. We continue to learn from our diverse audiences and re-evaluate what’s possible to better meet their needs. Two weeks before the festival, we will publish a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on our website, including detailed accessibility information.