Amstel Academie

Stepping into the realm of medical education, we find ourselves at the Amstel Academie. This institution, nestled within the Vrije Universiteit campus in Amsterdam, has a rich history. The Amstel Academie isn’t just a contemporary medical training center. Its roots trace back to 1961. It began as a nursing school. Its initial purpose was training nurses for the then Ziekenhuis der Vrije Universiteit (Free University Hospital). These nurses would receive nationally recognized diplomas. This learn-and-work model was a rarity back then. The school quickly grew to about four hundred nursing students. The name changed in 1992 to Opleidingcentrum VU ziekenhuis (VU hospital Training Center). Then in 2002, it became Opleidingscentrum VUmc (VUmc Training Center). Finally, in 2004, it received its current name: Amstel Academie. In 2005, the academy moved from Uilenstede to the OZW building on De Boelelaan. The Amstel Academie focuses on “in-service” training. Students are employed by hospitals and work while the academy provides theoretical instruction and coordinates their studies. The practical experience in hospitals serves as an integral part of the learning process. The Amstel Academie collaborates with nearly all healthcare institutions in the region. Amsterdam UMC is its largest partner. The academy offers a variety of programs. These include training for operating room assistants, anesthesia nurses, pediatric nurses, and intensive care nurses. Until September 2018, the Amstel Academie occupied the OZW building on De Boelelaan. This building, with its unique organic shape, was sometimes called the “Rode Pieper” (Red Pipit). The 52-meter high structure, designed by Jeanne Dekkers, was officially opened on May 9, 2006, by Princess Margriet. In the fall of 2018, the Amstel Academie relocated to the medical faculty building. This is also on the VU campus. The Amstel Academie continues its legacy. It shapes healthcare professionals who contribute to the well-being of the community.