The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is a small-scale, independent and internationally oriented university for fine art and design in Amsterdam (NL). A wide range of artistic expertise converges at the academy. 

It is home to a close-knit community of students and teachers from around the world. Students and teachers create a learning environment that brings together thinking and doing and where unexpected, innovative ideas are born.

Over half our students come from outside the Netherlands. For us, the fact that different cultures come together in our academy is a strength, as it challenges the students and teachers to relate to each other from different perspectives and histories, and to enter into a constructive exchange about the creative process. English is the language of communication at the academy.

As a student, the academy expects you to show initiative, to be capable of self-reflection, and to demonstrate the motivation to exchange ideas with others. We have opted for research, experiment and critical questioning, greatly valuing a committed and open attitude to others and to society. 

Do you want to apply for the Bachelor? Click here to read more. 

Preparatory Trajectories

Are you thinking of applying for the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and want to see what it’s like here first? Or perhaps you are hoping to expand your skills and work on your portfolio? The academy offers three preparatory trajectories – one workshop series and two courses – so you can get a taste of the Rietveld or prepare yourself for the bachelor’s programme.

Rietveld op Proef

Orientation Course

Preparatory Course

Full-time Bachelor programme

The Rietveld Academie offers a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme that starts with a general formative year, the Basicyear, after which students can make a founded choice from twelve specialisations, the departments. 

Read more about the Basicyear and the specialisations

Part-time Bachelor programme

The Rietveld Academie also offers a five-year part-time Bachelor’s degree programme: DOGtime. The Propaedeutic phase of the part-time Bachelor's programme takes two years to complete and is followed by three years of in-depth study. DOGtime students have classes three nights a week.

Read more about DOGtime

Facilities

The academy has 23 workshops that form its very heart. These include the library as the ‘workshop for the mind’.  The workshops enable students to experiment with different techniques and materials while learning to use professional equipment.

Read more about the workshops

Graduation Show

The bachelor's programme is concluded with a final presentation during our annual public Graduation Show. Graduates may use the title of Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design (BA).

Read more about the Graduation Show

Would you like to know more about the academy? Have a look at our brochure.