Born 23 November 1953 in Voorburg, he received his musical education at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague and he studied band conducting and trombone. He is a writer of programmatic music, he has similarities with both classical and modern composers. His first composition was for symphonic band, the Symphony No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings". It had its first performance in Brussels in 1988 and was awarded first prize in the Sudler International Wind Band Composition Competition in 1989 in Chicago. The Symphonic poem "Loch Ness" was written for the International Festival in Uster. His third work "Aquarium" was commissioned by the Dutch Composers Fund. His Symphony No. 2 "The Big Apple" (A New York Symphony) was commisioned and premiered by the U. S. Air Force Band.