Organisation structure
De Bachelor and Master study programmes, the Preliminary and Associate degree courses and the Research department of the Academy of Theatre and Dance are congregated as follows:
- Theatre
Mime School, Drama and Contemporary Music Theatre, Production and Stage Management, Theatre Directing, Scenography, Design & Technology, Theatre in Education - Dance
- Dutch National Ballet Academy, 5 O'Clock Class, SNDO / Choreography (School for New Dance Development), Dance in Education, Expanded Contemporary Dance
- DAS Master programmes and ATD Lectorate
DAS Choreography, DAS Theatre, DAS Creative Producing, ATD Lectorate
Students at work
photography: Sjoerd Derine
Academy of Theatre and Dance
Oeds Westerhof is the director of the Academy of Theatre and Dance from 15 August 2025. Oeds Westerhof has built an impressive track record in the cultural sector as director, board member and advisor of a wide range of arts institutions.
Oeds Westerhof knows the Dutch cultural sector well. His experience ranges from theatre, film and visual arts to art education, heritage and cultural participation. As (interim) director, he worked, among many others, for theatre festival Oerol, film house and debate centre LUX Nijmegen, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Cool Theater Heerhugowaard, LKCA and both the Cultural Participation Fund and the Performing Arts Fund. He was board member of the organisation that shaped Leeuwarden Cultural Capital of Europe 2018 and advisor for Kulturmetropole Hannover and Nationaal Park Nieuwe Stijl Friesland, among others. He is familiar with higher education as well: he previously worked at the University of Groningen and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. He is currently managing director of Cultuurkwartier Sneek and director of Common Ground - Common Sense, a network for interim, consultancy and mediation.
> Read here an Introductory Interview
At the academy we engage in a passionate dialogue about our identity and direction. The professional field and the world at large are included in this discourse as much as possible. Inspired by the motto ‘performing arts in transition’, we ask ourselves what the role of an art school should be in the 21st century. With its fourteen bachelor and three master study programmes in theatre and dance, the Academy of Theatre and Dance is unique in the Netherlands and the world. The top-quality study programmes attract the best students and can boast teachers who are fully active in the practical field. Made to measure guidance helps train a generation of students to become individual artists.
The Academy of Theatre and Dance is situated in the centre of Amsterdam. The school is like a large theatre company with well-equipped theatre auditoriums, studios and work spaces. Students can rely on excellent technical support and have access to an interdisciplinary digital lab to undertake experiments.
Read our policy departure points 2019-2024
- Director: Oeds Westerhof, 020-527 7822
- Lecturer and head of DAS Graduate School: Laura Cull Ó Maoilearca, 020- 527 7804
- Head Policy/Academy Secretary: Lieke van Hoogenhuyze 020-5277809
- Head management: Paul Jeroen Willems, 020-527 7660
- Facility manager: Niki Lemmens, 020- 527 7814
- Head IDlab and information and communication technology in education: Erik Lint, 020- 527 7809
- Head producing departments and project leader: Bart Kusters, 020-527 7816
- Senior advisor personnel and organization a.i.: Sharita Lachman 020-527 7743
Supporting staff at the Academy of Theatre and Dance:
Go to: Supporting Staff
The educational staff is mentioned at specific pages on this site:
The exam committee (EC) fulfills a supervisory role within the Academy of Theatre and Dance. The EC is independent and monitors the quality of exams and evaluations in relation to the formulated competencies and final qualifications of the study programme. In doing so, the EC plays an important role in the granting of diplomas. Indeed, students, teachers and the work field should have confidence that diplomas are awarded with due diligence.
The EC does not set exams itself, it appoints examiners, draws up guidelines for taking tests and evaluations (including certification), counters fraud, verifies the quality of tests and evaluations and decides on complaints, dispensations and personal learning tracks. Decisions of the EC are based on the Onderwijs- en examenregeling (OER) (Education and exam regulation) and the Studiegids (Study Guide) which contains the competencies and final qualifications of the study programme. In addition, the EC gives solicited and unsolicited advice on subjects relating to the quality of tests and evaluations.
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The members of the Advisory Committee of the Academy of Theatre and Dance are:
- Johan van Aalst
general board member Jeugdtheaterschool Zuidoost - Harmen van de Hoek
business director NITE and Club Guy & Roni