Prinsessegracht 4, 2514 AN Den Haag, Netherlands
The Royal Academy of Art The Hague is the oldest Academy in the Netherlands. Already in the sixteenth century there was mention of a Lucas guild in The Hague. From 1656 a branch of the guild arose in the form of the Confrérie Pictura. This division was intended to organize the real artists separately from the so-called daub painters. In 1682, the Confrérie Pictura founded an Academy, the forerunner of the current Academy. This Academy was mainly intended to give members of the confrérie the opportunity to become more proficient in drawing. The idea of organizing this extra training came from a number of painters who had worked in Rome and, based on this international orientation, felt the need to give painting in The Hague an academic and international allure. This wish was in keeping with the fact that The Hague had a more courtly character than other places in the Netherlands. Two aspects come together here that have often played a role in the history of this Academy. Stimulating the artistic climate in the immediate vicinity, but from an international perspective. From 1780, the Academy is completely independent from the Confrérie Pictura and becomes a free academy, an Academy that is free for everyone.
School Director: Ranti Tjan
Population: 1500
Population of Teaching Staff: