Born on 14 November 1953 in Winschoten, the Netherlands

• Bachelor-degree in Law studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, 1977
• Doctoral/master degree in Law, specialisations in Penal Law and Constitutional Law, 1979
• Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Utrecht, 1980-1993
• Member of the Law Faculty Council, University of Utrecht, 1984-1988
• Member of the University Council and member of the Presidium in the University of Utrecht, 1989-1991
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Law and Society, 1991-1993
• Honorary Judge in the District Court of Utrecht, 1991-1994
• Judge (1994-1998), Investigating judge (1997), Vice-President (1998-2001) of the District Court of Rotterdam
• Lecturer for Lawyers and other Higher Legal professionals, 1998-2004
• Lecturer at the School for Magistrates, 2001-2005
• Judge (2001-2003, 2005), Vice-President (2005-2010) of the High Court of Appeal (Gerechtshof) of The Hague; Chairman of the Penal Section and Member of the Board of Directors of this Court, 2006-2010
• Counsellor and Chairman of the Committee on Criminal Procedure and Legislation in the Ministry of Justice, Directorate Legislation, 2003-2005
• Chairman of the European Union Council Working Group on Penal Cooperation in the European Union during the Dutch Presidency, 2004
• Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Dutch Union of Magistrates, 2011-2012
• Advocate-General at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, 2010-2012
• Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from 1 November 2012 to 31 August 2016