Frequently asked questions

KLU stands for KLU Art History Courses; we are a Dutch provider of online art history courses for adults.
The name KLU dates back to the organisation’s early years, when its full name was Kunsthistorische Leergangen Utrecht. That name no longer did justice to what we do, and since then we have simply referred to ourselves as KLU. Our mission remains unchanged: to make art history accessible to anyone with an interest in art and culture, with no prior knowledge required.

No, most of KLU’s online art history courses do not require any prior knowledge. The courses are aimed at adults with an interest in art and culture, even if they have not previously studied art history.

Are you completely new to art history? Then this course is Introduction to Art History a good place to start. You can also filter our course listings to show introductory courses.

If you are new to art history, KLU recommends that you start with the ‘Introduction to Art History’ course. This course lays the foundations for many other courses in our programme.

Logical next steps could include, for example: Symbolism in Art A, Introduction to Architecture, Modern Art or Art Nouveau & Art Deco. The full, up-to-date range of courses, including start dates and filters, can be found at klu.nl/courses-on-offer.

An online lesson at KLU is a webinar lasting an average of 2 hours, including a short break. The tutor delivers the lesson using visual aids, directly in your browser. You do not need to install any app or software. During the lesson, you can ask questions via the chat function. The tutor will answer these afterwards by email or via KLU’s online community.

Almost all of KLU’s courses are taught in Dutch. There is one course in English: Dutch Masters of Art History.

Are you unsure about the language of a particular course? This is always stated on the relevant course page. You can find the full range of courses at klu.nl/cursusaanbod.

KLU’s lecturers are academically trained art historians with extensive experience in teaching adults. They combine in-depth subject knowledge with an accessible style of explanation, tailored specifically to people with an interest in art and culture.

You can find the tutor for a course on the course page. If you’d like to know which courses a tutor teaches, please visit klu.nl/teachers

Absolutely. You can give an art history course as a gift. You can order a gift voucher via klu.nl/gift-voucher or have the recipient register straight away using their details and complete the payment process themselves. If you’d like to discuss this first, please get in touch via klu.nl/contact and please specify which course you are referring to.

With every KLU course, you’ll receive lessons lasting an average of two hours, which you can also watch again within fourteen days of the course ending.

In addition, after each lesson you will receive a handout containing a summary and the images covered. You can ask the tutor questions via the private online community or by email, and the tutor will answer them after the lesson.

If you’re completely new to art history, it’s best to start with Introduction to Art History or one of the introductory courses. You will then find a section on each course page listing recommended follow-up courses. You can scroll straight down to it, or click on ‘Follow-up courses’ in the menu at the top of the page.

See also the full Course catalogue, where you can filter by tutor, start date and price.

What students particularly appreciate about KLU is the combination of academic rigour and accessibility. Complex subject matter is made easy to understand whilst maintaining a high standard – that is what sets KLU apart.

The tutors are consistently praised: they are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and have an engaging teaching style. Course participants say that after every lesson they look forward to the next one and that the knowledge really sticks.

KLU also scores highly in practical terms: the ease of catching up on sessions, the handouts and the good value for money are frequently mentioned. And perhaps the best side effect of all: after the course, participants pack their bags, visit museums with a fresh perspective or discover a new hobby.

You can read all the reviews at klu.nl/reviews.

At KLU, you can watch a replay of every lesson for 14 days after it has been broadcast. You will automatically receive the replay link by email once the lesson has finished.

Many students complete a course entirely via the replay, at a time that suits them. You can watch the recording as many times as you like within that 14-day period.

Yes, you can take KLU’s online courses anywhere in the world, including from abroad. All you need is an internet connection and a web browser; you don’t need to install any apps or software.

Yes, even if you miss a live class, you can watch it later on KLU. After each class, you’ll automatically receive a link to the recording by email. It’s valid for 14 days, and you can watch the recording as often as you like.

Many students even complete the entire course via the recording. This means you don’t need to be present on the scheduled date to complete the full course.

Most of our courses run on a regular basis. The course page for each course lists all the scheduled start dates. If there are no more start dates available, you can click on the ‘Keep me informed’ button. You will then automatically receive a notification as soon as a new start date becomes available.

You can always find the current range of courses, including all start dates, at klu.nl/courses-on-offer. If you’d like to stay up to date with our latest offers, please sign up for our newsletter via klu.nl/newsletter.

In that case, please contact KLU via klu.nl/contact. Please state the name of the course and the lesson. We will then look into the options with you.

If, due to circumstances, you have missed one or more KLU lessons, please get in touch via klu.nl/contact. Please state the course and which lessons you have missed. We will look at the options available to you together.

After completing the free trial class at KLU, you can still register for the course at the same rate as the early bird discount.
You do not need to do anything after the trial lesson to receive this rate; it is automatically offered when you register via the e-mail you receive after the trial lesson.

The trial lesson at KLU is completely free and without obligation. You follow lesson 1 of a course at no cost and without any obligation.
During the taster lesson, you’ll get a feel for how a lesson is structured: the teacher, the visual material and the handout. Afterwards, you’ll receive a recording so you can watch it again at your leisure before making a decision. There’s no obligation. View all current taster lessons at klu.nl/gratisproefles.

No, after KLU's free trial lesson, you are not committed to anything. Nothing will be charged automatically and you will not receive an invoice.
After the taster lesson, KLU will send you an email offering you the chance to enrol on the full course. It’s entirely up to you. If you do nothing, that’s the end of it. You can sign up for a taster lesson via the course page for the relevant course or via klu.nl/free-trial-lesson.

Yes, at KLU you can still enrol well after a course has started. If you enrol after the course has started, you will automatically receive links to watch the recordings of the lessons that have already taken place. That way, you won’t miss a single lesson. The course page states the deadline for enrolment.

Yes. If you enrol for the full course after your KLU taster lesson, the same rate as the early-bird discount will apply. This means you’ll benefit from a discounted rate, so you can take your time to decide whether to join after the taster lesson.

The taster lesson is the first lesson of a course, which you can attend free of charge and with no obligation. There’s no commitment: afterwards, you decide for yourself whether you want to take the full course. You can sign up for a taster lesson via the course page. An overview of all current taster lessons can be found at klu.nl/free-trial-lesson.

Please feel free to sign up for a free taster lesson, so you can see for yourself whether the course is right for you.

KLU will send the access link for a lesson twice by email: approximately 12 hours before it starts and again approximately 1 hour beforehand. Please also check your spam folder if you cannot see the email.

If you have already received the link for a lesson, you can also use that same link later to watch the lesson again.

Links are sent out for the first time approximately 12 hours before a lesson. Please check your spam folder first: emails from KLU sometimes end up there by mistake. If you cannot find the link there either, please contact us via klu.nl/contact. Please include the name of the course and the lesson, and we’ll help you as soon as possible.

KLU automatically sends the replay link approximately 1 hour after the lesson has ended. If you have not received the email, please check your spam folder first. If the email is not there either, please contact us via klu.nl/contact. Please state the name of the course and the lesson, and we will ensure that you are granted access.

Good to know: You can also use the lesson link you received beforehand to watch the lesson again.

Approximately 24 hours after the end of each lesson, you will automatically receive the handout by email. If you cannot find the email, please contact us via klu.nl/contact. Please state the course and the lesson, and we will resend you the handout.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s Introduction to Architecture course. The course is designed as an introduction to the history of architecture and starts from the basics.

It’s an advantage if you’ve already Introduction to Art History has taken the course at KLU, but it is certainly not a prerequisite. The course is entirely self-contained.

KLU’s ‘Splendour and Grandeur’ courses are excellent preparation for your own visit to a city or region. In each course, a KLU lecturer will guide you through the highlights and the hidden gems. From architecture to painting, you’ll gain a better understanding of what you’re looking at and where to look. But each course can certainly also be taken purely for enjoyment, without any travel plans. By the end, you’ll see the city through a completely different lens, whether you’re there in person or reminiscing at home.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s course on Modern Art from the Second World War to the 1990s. However, we do recommend that you take the ’Modern Art’ course first: this follow-up course builds on that and will be more beneficial if you already have the basics. If you haven’t taken ‘Modern Art’ yet, you can view that course via klu.nl/modern.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s Modern Architecture course. The course can be taken independently, but we may recommend that you first take the course Introduction to Architecture To follow: Modern Architecture builds on this and is best appreciated if you already have the basics in place.

In KLU’s Modern Art course, you’ll begin with Realism and Impressionism, and the course covers almost all the movements of the early 20th century: Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism, De Stijl, Suprematism and Abstract Expressionism, etc.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s Modern Art course. In fact, the course is particularly suitable for people who find modern art difficult to understand; that feeling will soon disappear.

Have you already taken the Introduction to Art History course? If so, the Modern Art course builds on that nicely. However, the course also stands entirely on its own.

In KLU’s Modern Art course, you’ll be introduced to the groundbreaking art movements of the early twentieth century. Do you find modern art inaccessible, or do you ever think, “My little sister could do that too”? After this course, you’ll probably think very differently about it.

You will follow the rapid succession of artistic movements from Realism and Impressionism, through Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism, De Stijl and Suprematism, to abstract art around the time of the Second World War. We will also focus specifically on Dutch modern art.

Following the KLU’s ‘Introduction to Architecture’ course, the Course in Modern Architecture a logical next step. This course builds directly on the knowledge covered in ‘Introduction to Architecture’ and is best understood if you have completed this foundation course first.

For an overview of all the options for further study, please scroll down to the ‘Further Courses’ section at the bottom of this page, or click on ‘Further Courses’ in the menu at the top.

KLU’s ‘Introduction to Architecture’ course covers twenty centuries of Western architectural history, spread across several lessons. Each lesson focuses on a particular period or style.

Topics covered include classical antiquity, Romanesque churches, Gothic cathedrals, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, as well as modern and contemporary architecture.

In KLU’s ‘Introduction to Art History’ course, you will learn to recognise the key styles, periods and works of art from Western art history in painting, sculpture and architecture. By the end of the course, you will view art in museums, churches and whilst on holiday with a fresh perspective.

In KLU’s ‘Introduction to Architecture’ course, you will learn to recognise the main architectural styles and movements in Western art and place them in their historical context.

You’ll take a journey through twenty centuries of architectural history: from Greek temples and Gothic cathedrals to Art Nouveau, Art Deco and the great names of modern architecture such as Le Corbusier, Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid. By the end, you’ll see buildings in a whole new light – whether on the street, whilst travelling or in a museum.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s Introduction to Art History course. The course is specifically designed as a first step into art history and starts right from the beginning. If you already have some knowledge of art history, the course is still well worth taking as a refresher and to gain a comprehensive overview.

In KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course, each lesson covers a specific theme. The six lessons cover: the symbolism of the Annunciation, recognising personifications and allegories, the symbolism of secular art (with an in-depth look at Jan van Eyck’s portrait of Arnolfini), the symbolism of Nativity and Crucifixion scenes, the symbolism of love in the Golden Age, and finally Romanticism and Symbolism.

The courses ‘Symbolism in Art A’ and Symbolism in art B They can be taken completely independently of one another, in any order. So you can start with the course that appeals to you most or fits in best with your schedule.

However, we do recommend taking Symbolism A before Symbolism C, because A lays the best foundation for the more in-depth themes covered in C.

No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course. The course is suitable for anyone with an interest in art and culture. Have you previously Introduction to Art History Have you taken a course at KLU? If so, Symboliek A builds on that nicely. If you’re not sure which course to start with, please contact with us!

In KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course, you will learn to recognise and understand the meaning behind symbols, personifications and allegories in Western art.

You’ll delve into Christian, mythological and secular art. By the end of the course, you’ll look at paintings differently; you’ll not only see what’s depicted, but also understand what it means. Who is that woman with the jar of ointment? What do the oranges in the Arnolfini portrait signify? What does Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’ convey?

The KLU course ‘Introduction to Art History’ covers eight periods: Classical Antiquity, the Romanesque period, the Gothic period, the Renaissance, the Baroque and the Golden Age, Neoclassicism and Romanticism, Impressionism and Expressionism, and modern art.

The exhibition covers painting, sculpture and architecture.

KLU’s ‘Introduction to Art History’ course is aimed at anyone with an interest in art and culture who wishes to explore art history in greater depth. No prior knowledge is required. The course is popular with people who have little prior knowledge but want to understand more about and learn what they see in museums, churches or whilst travelling. The explanations are accessible and clear.