The Jazz department of the Royal Conservatoire started in the seventies. During this decade big bands were formed of students of the classical department and professional jazz musicians. These big bands were conducted by Frans Elsen. In 1979 the first students were enrolled in the newly established jazz department. The department grew fast to over a hundred students. The teachers were all players which were very active on the jazz scene both in the Netherlands and throughout the world. This has remained until today. Between 1979 and 1985 the department grew from just a few students to around 125 students. All regular jazz instruments are taught as well as jazz vocals.

A student enrolled at the jazz department of the Royal Conservatoire studies jazz as the main subject and classical music as an important secondary subject. Of course, theory classes are important as well. Many combos are formed and conducted by teachers as well as by the students themselves. Every student plays in about two or three combos. In the late nineties the jazz department of the Royal Conservatoire consist of about one third of students coming from outside of the Netherlands and two third of student from the Netherlands. There are about twenty main subject teachers and about ten theory teachers.