Willem Bastiaan Tholen: A Life in Dutch Light Early Life and Education Born: Amsterdam, Netherlands on February 13, 1860. Tholen’s family moved to Kampen when he was five years old, a location that would heavily influence his early artistic subjects. He formed a close friendship with Jan Voerman in Kampen and they both enrolled at the Amsterdam Academy in 1876. Tholen quickly earned his proficiency certificate and continued h…