In 1851 the 'Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen' was founded from the merger of the 'Rotterdamse Tekengenootschap' and the 'Rotterdamse Industrieschool'.
In 1970 the school was renamed 'Academie van Beeldende Kunsten', and finally 'Willem de Kooning Academie' in 1998.