Xander van Eck studied Art History at the University of Groningen and the University of Amsterdam (1980-1987), and obtained his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (1990-1994).
He worked as a researcher at Utrecht University (1994-2007), and is currently a Professor of Art History at Izmir University of Economics in the Republic of Turkey, where he teaches courses on Art History. His research focusses on the Netherlands (that is, both the Northern and Southern provinces) between 1400 and 1800.