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Unleash Your Creativity: over 30 English-Taught Courses and Workshops in Amsterdam

Posted on Apr 23, 2019 by

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We are so often caught up in the daily routine that we forget to think about developing our playful, creative side. We remember about that only when life hits us with a burnout or quarter/middle age crisis and only then (maybe) we do something about it. But it shouldn’t be that way.

I believe that experimenting with our creativity should be something we do regularly, because it has so many benefits!

It can be something you always wanted to try but life stood in your way, or you might discover that the only way to relax is by doing something creative. Unleashing your creativity can help when you feel stuck in any area of your life, by giving your brain a break from the repetitive thoughts and helping it find new solutions.

Amsterdam is a place that brings out the creative side in people; I’ve seen it many times in myself and others around me. But what do you if you don’t speak Dutch yet, or not enough? Fear not, because Amsterdam, being the shiny expat bubble that it is, has the solution: a good selection of courses taught in English.

NOTE: this article was updated in February 2023

CREATIVE WRITING

  • International Writers’ Collective: four levels of creative writing (8 weeks per module), personal coaching and various workshops organised throughout the year. They also organise periodical write-together meetings (open for everyone, student or not) and meetings with writers. This is the place where I re-discovered my taste for writing fiction; I did three modules and I hope one day I’ll be able to go back and continue. The method they use is the right one for me and I enjoy very much the community created around this school.
    There is also a workshop in the Hague and an online class which can be followed from anywhere.
  • Amsterdam Writing Workshops: as the name says, they have a few creative writing workshops from September to June. They also try to create a community to support writers in their endeavours and a safe place for receiving writing feedback.
  • Amsterdam Writers: an 8 weeks workshop cycle for both advanced and beginners. They claim that their workshops and seminars “keep writers fit, healthy and strong through invigorating and stimulating exercises”.
  • CREA: offers two levels for creative writing, memoir writing and more. There’s a tricky thing about CREA — you have to wait until their students enrol and only then you know if there are any spaces left and if you can apply. 
Writing classes

FINE ARTS

  • Atelier Molenpad: Intuitive Painting Center for adults, all levels welcome. The intuitive painting classes aim to help you tap into your subconscious mind with art, and help you when you’re stuck, generating new ideas and feelings. The programme can be bought in one package, each session has a theme, and the content has a progressive flow. Atelier Molenpad also organises art retreats.
  • Ateliers Westerdok: develop your creative skills and knowledge about art (drawing and painting). They had to close during the pandemic, but looks like they are coming back soon. The main language is Dutch but English speakers are accepted and the teachers will give explanations is English too.
  • Vondelpark Atelier: a small international art school. The courses start every two months and there are also workshops organised upon request. You can choose from painting, drawing and photography courses, as well as workshops for collage, illustration, watercolours.
  • MK24: offers a variety of courses, from painting and sculpting to ceramics and multimedia. The language is mainly Dutch but some classes accept English speaking students as well (you’ll have to check with them). You pay by module or the whole year. This is where I took a Model Painting class this year, and I loved the experience!
  • Impression Studio: this is a small studio run by Charissa van de Kerkhoff who teaches all the classes. All levels, English and Dutch.
  • CREA Amsterdam has a wide variety of classes, some of them being offered in English as well.
  • Vincent van Oss: two courses and a few workshops. Private lessons are a possibility too, and the particularity of this studio is the Male Nude course, every Thursday.
  • Station West INT: they have a couple of drawing workshops taught in English, that look very cool. I particularly love the Visual Journalling one.

Painting

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIOVISUAL

  • SAE Institute: OK, this is more than “feeding a hobby” kind of thing. If you want to go very serious about it, you can enrol to one of the study programmes at SAE, which offers a comprehensive course portfolio in creative media fields (audio, film, animation, games development, music business, and web). They organise open-days from time to time, when you can get a taste of what the institute has to offer.
  • The FOTOfactory: this International Institute of Photography is the most prestigious private educational Institute in the Netherlands, with students from all over the world. They have a three years programme but also summer courses and workshops.
  • Vondelpark Atelier: crash course, basic and advanced photography courses plus a few workshops like street photography, photoshop. There’s also an animation course and film making workshops.
  • Amsterdam Photo Club: there’s a big community created around this club, and, apart from the usual courses and workshops, you can register for photowalks and other events such as portfolio reviews.
  • Megan Alter: basic and advanced courses, workshops on street or natural light photography and even private photo lessons.
  • Photography Courses Amsterdam: basic, intermediate and advanced courses, also private lessons.
  • Foam: the Photography Museum periodically organises workshops and some of them are in English.

ACTING AND IMPROV

  • The Mulholland Acting and Film Academy: offers short and long-term classes, combining European and American techniques (Strasberg and Meisner, Scene study etc). Beginner and advanced acting programs are available.
  • Theodora Voutsa: acting classes based on the Los Angeles method — a combination of acting and personal development techniques. There are a few levels, from beginner to “transformational masterclass”. Theodora created also a few online courses, like “How to be a Successful Storyteller” and “Habits”.
  • Boom Chicago Academy – the training branch of the well known Boom Chicago venue offers long-form improvisation classes (six levels), pitch trainings, presentation courses, and InterActing, a program for young people with autism. For business groups they offer creativity worksops and team building activities.
  • Easy Laugh: this international improvised comedy group offers improvisation and stand-up comedy classes, as well as occasional various workshops.
  • Act Attack – a new English speaking theatre group providing acting classes for everyone interested. You will be part of a happy and dynamic multicultural club, developing your skills and having fun. You won’t receive a professional acting diploma at the end, but you’ll get to perform in their shows.

CERAMICS

  • Art Ceramics Studio: all levels ceramics courses, Raku and mold making, as well as workshops like “Pottery painting”. A nice feature is that you can join the course at any time, as long as there are still places available.
  • Studio Pansa: is an open access clay and ceramics workspace, providing all the necessary facilities for their members to work freely. If you already know your ceramics, you can get a membership, but if you’re a beginner, try one of their courses first.
  • Patty Schilder: sculptural ceramic classes for all levels. The course can be joined at any time. Patty also offers a few interesting workshops, like “Raku firing”, “Ceramics and wine tasting” or “Totem team building”.
  • Pansy: ceramic painting workshops in their cosy shop. You can choose from from a selection of cups, vases, trinket boxes and plates and you’ll be guided on how to transform the object into a pretty one.
DIY cosmetics

OTHER 

  • Blog coaching with yours truly. You can book one-on-one coaching sessions with me, and I’ll guide you through the process. I can help you gain clarity, create a strategy for success (whatever that success means to you), give you tips and tricks I learned in 12+ years of blogging. This is something either for new bloggers, who are trying to figure out their approach and strategy, for solopreneurs who want to develop their online presence or for those blogging for a while, but feel lost in their blogging journey. Price: 50 Euro/session.
  • Oh Pretty Paper: if you’d like to learn how to make pretty letters using a pointed pen and ink, join one of the modern calligraphy workshops.
  • De Steek: learn how to make your own clothes with sewing lessons (for all levels). Apart from the regular courses, the list of workshops is quite appealing: “Natural Dyeing”, “Lingerie Workshop”, “Upcycled Dress” — to name a few. They also have activities for kids.
  • Mediamatic has different workshops all the time, from creating fragrance to making soap and growing your own funghi. 

There are various other pop-up workshops in Amsterdam, make sure to keep an eye on the Meetup website of FB events. I hope this list will inspire some of you to get out of the day-to-day routine and try something new this year 😉

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10 Comments

  1. Thank you for putting this together.

  2. I was just looking for some creative workshops in Amsterdam, and was super lucky to stumble upon your great article. Thank you!

    • You’re welcome! I hope you found some ideas that you like 🙂

  3. Thanks for this list, just what I was looking for!
    PS: the paper brush studio link is no longer working. I did a quick search on google and seems like they changed their name and web to https://www.bloomarthouse.com/

    • I’m glad you find the list useful! And thanks for noticing that, I’ll change the link 🙂

  4. Hi Dana,

    Thank you for including my Photography Courses and Workshops on this list 🙏

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