Former Director of the Royal Conservatoire – visionary, connector and passionate advocate for the arts
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Frans de Ruiter, former Director of the Royal Conservatoire and a leading figure in Dutch and international cultural life. He passed away on 16 July 2025 at the age of 79.
Frans de Ruiter was a man of exceptional vision, tireless energy and deep dedication to the arts. From 1985 to 2006, he served as Director of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, helping to shape its development into a centre of artistic excellence, research and experimentation, international collaboration and interdisciplinary education. His thinking on arts education and his belief in the societal importance of the arts left a lasting mark both within and beyond our institution.
Under his leadership, the Conservatoire significantly expanded its international presence and built long-term partnerships with institutions throughout Europe and beyond. He brought some of the most influential composers of the twentieth century to The Hague – including Olivier Messiaen, György Kurtág, György Ligeti, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Mauricio Kagel, Steve Reich and John Cage – for major artistic projects that helped define the institution’s creative identity.
One of his most visionary decisions was securing a new home for the Institute of Sonology. When the institute’s future at Utrecht University became uncertain in the 1980s, Frans de Ruiter ensured it could continue as part of the Royal Conservatoire. In doing so, he provided it with both stability and artistic freedom, and strengthened the Conservatoire’s innovative and experimental profile for decades to come.
Frans de Ruiter also played a key role in the creation of the Dutch National Opera Academy (1996), a joint initiative of the Royal Conservatoire and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. This collaboration offered young opera singers a unique opportunity to develop within a shared framework of artistic expertise and high-level training.
In 2001, he founded the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA), originally established as the Faculty of the Arts. With ACPA, he created a unique connection between Leiden University and the University of the Arts The Hague, bringing together artistic practice and academic research in a way that was ahead of its time. Since 2009, ACPA has been part of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University.
Frans de Ruiter was also one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the University of the Arts The Hague, which brought together music, dance and visual arts in a formal and lasting partnership. His vision of interdisciplinarity, collaboration and structural cohesion in arts education formed the basis of this development. As the University’s first Chair of the Executive Board, he helped guide its direction during its formative years.
Beyond his work in higher education, De Ruiter played a prominent role in national cultural policy. As co-founder and long-time chair of Kunsten ’92, he campaigned for a sustainable and prominent place for the arts in Dutch society. Internationally, he made an impact as President of the International Music Council of UNESCO, where he championed access to music education in underrepresented regions. In recognition of his many contributions, he was awarded the Cross of Honour of the Order of the House of Orange in 2010 by Queen Beatrix – a royal distinction granted for exceptional service to the Dutch Royal House.
Yet his influence went far beyond institutions and policy. Frans de Ruiter was, above all, a connector – someone who recognised potential, created opportunities, and inspired students and colleagues alike with his deep conviction that the arts are essential to a free, open and humane society.
We are profoundly grateful for everything he contributed to the Royal Conservatoire and the University of the Arts The Hague. His legacy lives on in the generations of musicians, dancers, makers and thinkers he helped to shape – and in our continued dedication to artistic quality, connection and public value.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who knew and worked with him.
Royal Conservatoire The Hague