Ben van Meerendonk was born in Amsterdam on 20 July 1913. Straight after finishing primary school, he started work as an errand boy for the Vereenigde Fotobureaux. He underwent thorough photographic training while working as a darkroom assistant and photo finisher.

Even before the war, he had already established himself as an independent photographer. He was prohibited from pursuing his profession during World War II, which he survived by going door-to-door as a children's photographer.

In 1945, Van Meerendonk founded the Algemeen Hollands Fotopersbureau (General Dutch Photo Press Agency). At first the company had a sizable staff, but it soon became mostly a one-man business. It went bankrupt in 1969, and Van Meerendonk retired from professional photography.

Photography was a true profession to Van Meerendonk, a way to pay the rent. He wasn't interested in the 'new photography' and held no artistic aspirations. He specialised in everyday reality and stardom because these were subjects that were easy to sell to the magazines.

Van Meerendonk has won the Silver Camera three times and was co-founder and member of the board of directors of World Press Photo. After many years of oblivion, his photography has since been rediscovered and has recently again gained wide popularity. His images of the 1950s and 1960s have entered the realm of nostalgia for many by now.