On 15 September, 1884, Daniel de Lange, Frans Coenen, Julius Röntgen and Joh. Messchaert opened the forerunner of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam: the Amsterdamsch Conservatorium. The institute, located at Nieuwe Achtergracht 24 in Amsterdam, had in its first year 32 students and 10 ‘hospitants’. Initially, general music theory, counterpoint, music history, composition, voice, piano, organ, violin and cello were taught.

Almost at the same time the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) was founded. At the time, the RCO had its own orchestral class, which was rapidly subsumed into the conservatoire. The links between the two institutions have been very close ever since. Many of the orchestra’s players taught at the conservatoire and many former students went on to occupy important positions within the RCO. The result was a hitherto unknown degree of professionalism within the Dutch musical world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Within ten years, Amsterdam gained a preeminent position on the world stage, a position that it has retained to this day. The RCO and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam have in the past stood for and still represent the very best in international professional performance practice.

In 1976, the Amsterdamsch Conservatorium, the Conservatorium van de Vereniging Muzieklyceum and the Haarlem Muzieklyceum merged to form the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam. The outstanding international reputation in the field of classical music was expanded in 1994, by a further merger with the renowned Hilversum Conservatorium, into the field of jazz. Under its new title of ‘Conservatorium van Amsterdam’, the largest conservatoire in the Netherlands now took shape, with all genres under its roof: classical and early music, orchestral conducting, opera, jazz, Music in Education and, since 2003, pop music as well.

As a result of all these developments, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam outgrew its home on the Van Baerlestraat, resulting in the decision to embark on new construction. The new building at the Oosterdokskade, within walking distance of the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, the Bimhuis, the Amsterdam Public Library and the Central Station, was first occupied in 2008. The building transformed dreams and desires into reality: four concert halls, well-equipped teaching and rehearsal rooms, state of the art recording studios, a comprehensive library, and a foyer.
De Pop Department relocated to a new home at the Q-Factory on the Atlantisplein, a vibrant hub for musicians, dancers and actors, with rehearsal rooms, a concert hall and a studio. 

Developments continued at the new location: 2018 saw the founding of the Amsterdam Electronic Music Academy, an associate degree in electronic music and production, and 2022 saw the CvA's National programme for young top talents gain a branch for young pop musicians: the Young Pop Academy. Partnerships with other institutes at home - such as the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague (Dutch National Opera Academy, National Master Orchestra Conducting) and the Netherlands Film Academy (Composing for Film) - and abroad guarantee an inspiring and groundbreaking range of study programmes. 

Aware of its rich past, and with a view to the future, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam has thus been at the heart of contemporary musical life for the past 140 years.

A survey of the facts
● 15 September, 1884: official opening of the Amsterdamsch Conservatorium
● 1888: the Concertgebouw building is completed
● 1889: the subjects of flute, clarinet, trumpet, harp and double bass are added to the curriculum. 
● 1891: Queen Regent Emma becomes patroness of the conservatoire. 
● 1907: the conservatoire outgrows its home on the Nieuwe Achtergracht. Since moving to the new accommodation is not immediately possible, in 1906-1907 classes are held in the Concertgebouw. 
● 1909: the conservatoire moves to Keizersgracht 123 (the House with the Heads). It then has 71 students and four ‘hospitants’. 
● 9 October, 1909: the 25th anniversary is celebrated with a concert in the Concertgebouw conducted by Daniel de Lange.
● 1920: establishment of a conservatoire by a society called 'Muzieklyceum'
● 1931: the Bachzaal is completed; the conservatoire moves to the Bachstraat
● 1976: Amsterdamsch Conservatorium, Muzieklyceum and Haarlems Muzieklyceum merge to form the Sweelinck Conservatorium
● 1985: the Sweelinck Conservatorium moves to the former savings bank building in the Van Baerlestraat
● 1994: Sweelinck Conservatorium and Hilversums Conservatorium merge to form the Conservatorium van Amsterdam
● 1998: the merger is finally completed, with all study programmes taking place in the Van Baerlestraat and the Nieuwe Vaart
● 2003: start of the Pop Department
● April 2008: the conservatoire moves to its new building at Oosterdokseiland in Amsterdam
● 2009-2010: the conservatoire celebrates its 125th anniversary with a jubilee year full of activities, which concludes with the festival From Baroque to Rock on the Oosterdok from June 20 to July 2, 2010.
● 30 March, 2016: Queen Máxima visits the symposium ‘Music education we do together’, where she receives the first copy of the project's final publication.
● 2018: start of the Amsterdam Electronic Music Academy.
● 2022: start of the Young Pop Academy