Royal Academy of Art
The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK) has been a leader in educating artists and designers since 1682. Highly skilled professional staff with international professional practices, guide and accompany students through their studies. It was founded in 1682 as the Haagsche Teeken-Academie (or ‘The Hague Drawing Academy’). Drawing classes were held for the public in the evenings and the society debated about art on Saturdays.
In the 18th century, The Hague Drawing Academy was a thriving institution. In 1821 the academy merged with the newly established School of Civil Engineering. After being housed in the buildings Korenbeurs and Boterwaag in 1839, the academy moved into a new neoclassical building on the Prinsessegracht, designed by city architect Zeger Reyers (1790-1857). In the 19th century famous artists Johannes Bosboom, Isaac Israels, Willem Maris, Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch and George Hendrik Breitner attended the academy.
Under the influence of, amongst others, the Bauhaus movement, interest arose for the applied arts. In 1929, the Academy offered the course ‘Advertorial Drawing and Furniture Construction’. Under the direction of teachers like Kiljan, Citroen, Schuitema and Alons courses like these expanded into the independent departments ‘Graphic and Typographic Designing and Interior’.
They believe in lifelong learning and offer a School for Young Talent, preparatory courses, bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes, and a PhD programme in collaboration with Leiden University. Together with the Royal Conservatoire we form the University of the Arts The Hague.
