ˈæftɚɹ ɐtˈɛndɪŋ ɐ lˈætɪn skˈuːl fɹʌm wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn tə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ, hiː stˈʌdid lˈɔː æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ɡɹˈoʊnɪndʒən, əbtˈeɪnɪŋ ɐ dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn.
After attending a Latin school from 1849 to 1854, he studied Law at the University of Groningen, obtaining a degree in 1859.