The 10^th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival will only be ‘open’ until 5pm, the organisers have decided, because of the new coronavirus rules.

The lights will only be switched on from 7am to 9am and from 3pm to 5pm until December 19 at least, the organisers said on Tuesday.

‘The government has appealed to people to stay home after 5pm, and this conflicts with organising a festival encouraging people to go for a walk later than this,’ director Frédérique ter Brugge said. ‘But we need it to be dark to see the lights, so we are only open early in the morning and later in the afternoon. It is a difficult situation for everyone.

The route, which this year includes highlights of the previous nine years, can be followed on foot or by water. Sunset in Amsterdam is around 4.30pm all month.

Five of the installations will remain switched on at night because they are located on the water itself, and there would be a risk of accidents if they could not be seen.