Barend Vlaardingerbroek was born in the Netherlands in 1954 and spent most of his early years in New Zealand and the New Hebrides (subsequently Vanuatu). He has been awarded the degrees of BSc, BA, BEdSt, MAppSc and PhD by Australian and New Zealand universities, and PGDipLaws by London University. After 10 years of secondary teaching, he spent 30 years at universities in Papua New Guinea, Botswana and Lebanon.

Barend developed a keen interest in the Victorian era, especially its science, as a teenager.

He has been married to Valerie since 1975.