Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Studied psychology at Amsterdam University. Ph.D. 1956 at Amsterdam University on a thesis on "Understanding Facial Expression of Emotions".

Worked as clinical psychologist at the Dutch Army Neurosis Center and youth delinquency center, Ministry of Justice, 1952-1955. Assistant professor, University of Amsterdam, 1955-1965. Professor in experimental and theoretical psychology, 1965-1992 (retirement), University of Amsterdam. Professor extraordinarius in emotion psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1992-2002.

Visiting professor, Universiteit van Maastricht, University College Utrecht, Maison des Sciences de l'Homme/LEPS, Paris, Université de Paris X-Nanterre, Université de Genève, Universitas de San Sebastian, Universitá di Bari, Universitá di Padova, Universidade di Sao Paulo.

Chairman, Netherlands Psychonomics Foundation, 1965-1975; co-founder, executive officer, member, International Society for Research on Emotion (ISRE); director, Institute for Emotion and Motivation, Amsterdam University,1988-1992.

Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences; member, Netherlands Society for the Sciences; member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Honorary Doctorate, Universitá degli Studi di Padova.
Three children from a first marriage. Lived in Amsterdam with his second wife and their son.