Born in
Laren, North Holland in 1915, he received his doctorate in economics from
Tilburg University in 1942. He worked as a civil servant, and he became a professor at
Radboud University Nijmegen in December 1945. Van den Brink started serving in the
Senate in November 1945 as a member of the
Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP), which continued as the
Catholic People's Party (KVP) the following month. ==Personal life==