1940-1943 Academy of the Visual Arts, Amsterdam. Friendship with Corneille (Cornelis van Beverloo). 1945-1946 travels to Belgium, France, Germany, and Denmark. 1946 shares an atelier with Corneille. Meets Asger Jorn. 1948 co-founder of the Dutch group 'Reflex' and member of its associated Scandinavian artists' group 'Cobra' until its dissolution in 1951. 1954 first major exhibition in New York's Martha Jackson Gallery. 1957 visits the United States. 1964-1972 acquires Molesmes Castle, near Auxerre, as his residence. 1972-1978 lives mainly in Paris and New York. 1978 moves to Monaco.