Education
Gert de Rijk was born in 1945 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He studied at the 'Artibus' Academy in Utrecht and was a student of Jan van Ham ('t Bolwerk). He also worked at the Mobach factory for a while.

Career
Gert de Rijk made several study trips to France, Spain, Italy Greece and Israël. Since 1963 he worked at 't Bolwerk alongside Jan van Ham, which he took over in 1965. In 1970 he continued this pottery under his own name. Since 1991 'Z4' in Utrecht.