He completed his studies at the Brussels Conservatoire, when he took his performers examination in 1962. In parallel with his Conservatoire studies he interested himself more and more with earlier music and its instruments. At the age of 18 he began to teach himself the viola da gamba.

His musical career started with the Alarius Enemble (1959-1972). At the same time he showed a great interest in avantgarde music.

He became internationally known through many concerts and recordings with his brothers Sigiswald and Barthold, Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen and Alfred Deller.

Since 1970 he has taught at the Conservatoires in Brussels and The Hague. In addition to these activities he regularly gives international summer masterclasses (Innsbruck etc.)