He obtained his M.Sc from the University of Groningen and his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1965, where he stayed for the rest of his career as "wetenschappelijk hoofdmedewerker".
El a primit lui obținut său M.Sc de la Universitatea din Groningen⁠(en) și a lui doctoratul de la Universitatea Radboud Nijmegen⁠(en) în 1965, unde a rămas pentru tot restul carierei sale ca "wetenschappelijk hoofdmedewerker".