He came from an aristocratic family. Although he expressed an early interest in art, his father insisted that he study law. He did so, at the
University of Leiden, and graduated in 1865. Three years later, he defied his family's wishes and moved to Brussels, where he studied with
Willem Roelofs,
Paul Gabriël and
Félicien Rops, He is credited with helping to create a renewal of interest in etching as an independent art form and produced more than 400 etchings; mostly landscapes and cityscapes. With
Willem Witsen, he was a co-founder of the "Nederlandse Etsclub" (Dutch Etching Club). His works may be seen in museums around the world, including large institutions like the
British Museum and the
Detroit Institute of Arts and smaller museums such as the Owens Art Gallery in
Sackville, New Brunswick. As a lithographer, he is believed to have been among the first to use aluminum plates, rather than stone or zinc. ==Selected works==