Hendrick Avercamp was born in Amsterdam and baptized on 27 January 1585. In 1586 the family moved to Kampen, where his father set up an apothecary's business. For his artistic training, Avercamp went to Amsterdam to study with the Danish portrait painter Pieter Isaacks. During his apprenticeship in Amsterdam, Avercamp came under the influence of the Flemish painters of mannerist landscapes, notably Gillis van Coninxloo and David Vinckboons. By 1614 Avercamp was back in Kampen, where he seems to have remained until his death in May 1634. His nephew Barent Avercamp was his pupil, as were Arent Arentsz. and Dirck Hardenstein II. Avercamp was often referred to as De Stomme van Kampen (the mute from Kampen) indicating that he was deaf.