In the 1960s, Prof. Dr. J.H. Jongkees of the University of Utrecht and colleagues developed plans for the founding of a Dutch archaeological and historical institute in the Peloponnese. By 1967 these plans were well advanced, but then had to be abandoned due to the political situation in Greece. In the 1970s the University of Utrecht resumed its fieldwork in Greece, concentrating on the mapping and surveying of rural Greek settlements of the Classical and the Hellenistic period. The scope of these projects had to remain limited, however, since the Netherlands did not have an official institute in Greece. Mainly on the initiative of the late Dr. S.C. Bakhuizen, the Archaeological Survey School of Holland in Greece was founded in 1976. From then on Dutch archaeologists could apply for permits to carry out surveys, but not for excavations, as Greek law restricts excavation-rights to foreign countries that have a fully-fledged archaeological institute in Greece.

The Archaeological School of the Netherlands at Athens was founded in 1982. The aim was to have an Archaeological Institute under whose responsibility general archaeological fieldwork could be carried out. In 1984 the Greek government recognized this school, provided that it had its own premises in Greece, with space for a library and photo-archives, and that the Director of the School was an experienced Dutch archaeologist living permanently in Greece. The Dutch Ministry of Education and Science was willing to assist the School financially for a limited period, but maintained that, permanent funding had to be provided by the Dutch universities. Although various universities were interested in supporting the school, no funds were immediately forthcoming, due to stringent cost-cutting measures undertaken in the 1980s. The Ministry of Education ended its temporary support for the NIA in 1991 and the situation became untenable. The managing committee realized that Greek archaeology alone was considered by most Dutch universities to be too limited a field to justify the presence of a fully-fledged institute in Athens. The scope of the School was therefore expanded to include all areas of Greece-oriented studies. The name of the school was changed to The Netherlands Institute at Athens (NIA). Scholars from other fields than archaeology were added to it and an Association of Friends provided support for the Institute beyond the academic world. Five Dutch universities expressed their willingness to support the NIA financially. On January 1st 1994 the administration of the NIA was handed over to the University of Amsterdam. Since 2000 the VU University Amsterdam is the sixth University participating in the NIA. In 1999 the NIA moved into a beautifully restored neo classical mansion at the foot of the Acropolis. The Greek Ministry of Culture has permanently recognized the NIA and long term funding is secured. The NIA now functions with a complete staff of six persons, to which temporary staff is added on project basis. The NIA has expanded its activities in academic, educational and cultural fields through the organization of colloquia, a large number of lectures, courses and a variety of cultural activities. In 2005 a total of six Dutch archaeological field projects were organized in Greece.