Art Schools in the Netherlands
With such a strong history of art in the Netherlands, it is not surprising that there are so many art schools available for students in the Netherlands. Historically, Dutch artists learned their craft by apprenticeship. Students would become apprenticed to masters of their desired craft and learn by assisting their teachers. Nowadays, students attend art schools to learn their craft. Some Dutch art colleges and universities are listed below.
Academie Minerva
Academie Minerva offers degrees in two main fields:
- Fine Art and Design
- Teacher Training in Fine Art and Design
Design Academy Eindhoven
Design Academy Eindhoven concentrates on industrial design in the Netherlands. It has recently been said of the Design Academy that it is "without question, currently the best design academy in the world". Its faculty and alumni have met with a certain amount of professional recognition and success. The academy emphasizes creativity and practical industrial design.
Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Gerrit Rietveld Academie is located in Amsterdam. The Academy was named after a famous Dutch architect and furniture designer, Gerrit Rietveld. Many of the Academy’s student population (about 40%), comes from outside of the Netherlands.
The Gerrit Rietveld Academie offers Bachelors Degrees in the following areas:
- Architectural Design
- Design Lab
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Jewellery Design
- Textile Design
Piet Zwart Institute
The Piet Zwart Institute was opened for students in 2001 and offers postgraduate degrees for study and research in art, media and design. The Institute is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The institute was named after the Dutch designer, Piet Zwart. At the Piet Zwart Institute students are able to pursue five master's degrees and one research program, which are as follows:
- Masters in Fine Art
- Retail Design
- Interior Architecture
- Media (with specializations available in Networked Media and Lens-Based Digital Media)
- Education in Art
- A research program in Communication in a Digital Age
Royal Academy of Art (The Hague)
Located in The Hague, the Royal Academy of Art is the oldest art academy in Europe. It was founded in 1682. When attending the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, students can complete bachelor's and master's courses. Students may also complete a Ph.D. in the arts at the Royal Academy of Art through Leiden University.
Willem de Kooning Academy
The Willem de Kooning Academy is located in Rotterdam. Willem de Kooning Academy offers, in addition to art classes, courses in advertising and copywriting.