The Water Colors route was a huge success. In addition to the canal cruise companies, the Amsterdammers also went en masse on their own boats, and rowers and open sloops faced the cold. The festival started its partnership with Amsterdam Creative Industries Network, to make an innovative light artwork every year in collaboration with students from the HvA and the Breitner Academy. Mayor Eberhard van der Laan became patron of the festival. The festival started earned a spot on the list of traditional family winter outings.