Amsterdam

Welcome to Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam

Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam, launched in September 2016, is our school located in the heart of Amsterdam. The school is integrated into the brand new, purpose-built studio facilities of Sonic City Studios, based inside music-makers center Q-Factory. It offers our students bespoke studio spaces with an integrated classroom to work in. We’re proud to host our school in a place that breathes music and supports all areas of the course. You’ll work with top of the range, industry standard equipment in our professional studios.

Amsterdam

A look inside our Studio Book a tour

Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam, launched in September 2016, is our school located in the heart of Amsterdam. The school is integrated into the brand new, purpose-built studio facilities of Sonic City Studios, based inside music-makers center Q-Factory. It offers our students bespoke studio spaces, with an integrated classroom to work in. We’re proud to host our school in a place that breathes music and supports all areas of the course. You’ll work with top of the range, industry standard equipment in our professional studios.

Overview of the space
Throughout the course you’ll have access to both our teaching and commercial studios at different stages, depending on the modules you’re working on. Our purpose-built facilities include a 100 m² live recording space, production/recording studio and a combined control room and classroom.

Students have access to the Institute’s studios both as part of the timetabled teaching as well evenings for independently managed recording and production and mixing. Every student has access to a powerful computer workstation available before, during and after class.

You can take your project from the studio and continue recording, editing and mixing on the computer workstation. Abbey Road Institute students can be sure they are learning on the very best industry standard equipment in the classroom and studio.

Practical time is allocated on an individual basis and fully supervised by our qualified staff. Practical sessions can be booked by students on a weekly or monthly basis during the operating hours of the Institute. There is no limit to the amount of practical time a student can book during his/her course, subject only to availability.

Check out our studios

Our live room hosts many instruments such as a Steinway piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Gibson guitars and bass, Natal drumkit and lots of amps.

Our SSL room (Studio 2) comes equipment with all the latest outboard and plugins and Studio 1 has our Neve VR60 with an Avid HDX system, and has all the classic outboard gear such as Pultec, UREI, Neve 2254, Manley, Binson Echorec and much more.

Get to know our gear

Our dedicated studio 1 with integrated classroom features a Neve VR console (60 channels), PMC studio monitors, and a selection of microphones and classic outboard equipment. The outboard gear consists of Pultecs, Tube-tech, Manley, Universal Audio 1176, Distressors, Massenburg EQs, Dimension D, H3000, AMS, Binson Echorec. Microphones include Neumann U87s, U47 FET, KM84s, C414s and much more.

Studio 2 is equipped with a SSL 8000 G+/B console (48 channels), loaded with 32 mono and 8 stereo channels and Dynaudio studio monitors.

Our powerful computer workstations consist of the latest generation Apple® computer with high power external DSP processing loaded with all Universal Audio plug-ins; Leapwing Audio, FabFilter, Waves, Softube, Slate, iZotope, Celemony, Native Instruments, Garritan, McDSP and Toontrack plug-ins, as well as Pro Tools, Logic and Ableton DAW.

Virtual Tour
Have a look around our online gallery for a taste of what’s available. Then book an open day or tour as we’d love to meet you in person.

A look into Amsterdam Book a Tour

Top 5 reasons to study in Amsterdam

Job opportunities
Amsterdam is a great location to start your studies and career, as it’s an international hotspot for the creative industries. The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is undoubtedly a very unique environment, helping to set it apart and attract some of the world’s top creative talents.

With an enviable network of both staff, visiting industry experts and students alike, there are never ending possibilities that can come out of the relationships you create and build during your time at Abbey Road and support you in your career trajectory after your studies.

Music industry network
A key aspect for success in the music industry is developing your network. Your experience at Abbey Road Institute goes far beyond the technical skills and expertise you’ll gain with us.
Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam is based in Europe’s largest music-makers centre, known as Q-Factory. This unique location breathes music, providing students with benefits beyond the Abbey Road Institute education alone. From artist management to rehearsal rooms and concert halls, the centre houses a variety of music-related companies and spaces, offering a place for music professionals to network and collaborate with all the tools they need at hand.

International community
Part of what gives the city its rich and varied culture is the open-minded attitude of the Dutch. You will quickly discover that Amsterdam is multi-cultural, multi-lingual and actively advocates for LGBT rights. English proficiency is exceptionally high in the Netherlands. And as a truly international city, Amsterdam leads the way. You’ll find English menus in restaurants, English TV channels and friendly locals who are happy to translate.

Student life
Life in Amsterdam sure is good! It’s a clean and safe city, with a lot going on, especially in the weekends: an exhibition, shopping at the market, a picnic in Vondelpark, a festival – and that’s just your Saturday. Amsterdam offers students a metropolitan lifestyle with a cozy, small-scale feel and treasure trove of canals, concert venues, bars, parks and festivals just waiting to be explored.

Music Scene
From Paradiso, Melkweg and Q-Factory to Ziggo Dome, AFAS Live and Concertgebouw, Amsterdam has a fantastic array of music venues and concert halls, everything from bars and clubs to massive arenas. With 55 music venues scattered across Amsterdam and 9000 concerts a year, the city offers something for all musical tastes every day of the week.
The Guardian – 10 Music Gig Venues in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Canals

Amsterdam Canals

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than one hundred kilometers of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, contributing to Amsterdam’s fame as the “Venice of the North”.

Amsterdam

Why you should study here

Amsterdam
  • Concerts per year 9000
  • Music Stores 78
  • Bikes 820000
  • Concert Venues 55

Visit Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam

Book a tour

It’s been a life-changing experience really. I came with the willingness and hunger to learn and I left with the awareness of being not only a better producer and engineer, but a better person/human being. Once you’ve learnt all the techy stuff, you realise how much more essential it is to learn the emotional and psychological part of the game and how to deal with artists. And that only comes with passion, hunger and dedication.

Marco Spaggiari, Amsterdam Graduate 2018

It’s insane how inspiring it is to put fifteen musicians of all genres and backgrounds in one class and work on your skills together. I mean, Abbey Road brought me a lot of knowledge, a great network and practical skills – that’s what I signed up for. But it also gave me a bloody great time, tons of fun and sort of a second family.

Rudy Mackay, Amsterdam Graduate 2017

I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for this course, not only for the invaluable education but also for the good people at Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam, and everyone I’ve met along the year.

Kiko Medeiros, Amsterdam Graduate 2018

By day, you’re soaking in the knowledge of industry experts. By night, you practice what you’ve learnt in a playground of high-end studio equipment. What more could you possibly want?

Janice Wong, Amsterdam Graduate 2017

Abbey Road Institute is not a school, it is a high end production studio with a control room full of learners.

Théo Dorey, Amsterdam Graduate 2016

“Every day spent here felt like I was better than the day before. It is beautiful to think in colours, mix with flavours and develop a unique way to listen and understand music. Abbey Road is all about perspective and attitude, things which are taught so well between the magical walls of the institute“

Stefan Roscovan, Amsterdam Graduate 2017

From the moment I entered Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam it took me a total of 5 minutes to realise that I came to the right place. It has been one of the best experiences, meeting new friends for life from all over the world. You learn so, so much in just 1 year in an incredible environment, which has to be felt to understand.

Fabian Brummel, Amsterdam Graduate 2017