[3] He completed pre-university education in 1982 and graduated from the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam with a degree in Political Science, specializing in International Relations.

Haspels then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987 and followed its diplomatic service training program.

[4] Haspels is married to Bernie Grootenboer and has four children: Lora, Sabine, Quinten and Alec.

Haspels joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987, after completing the diplomatic service training program he worked as a Policy officer, at the Political and Economic Affairs Section at the embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 1988 until 1990.

From 1997 until 2005 he served as the Head of the Political Department of the Dutch Embassy in South Africa (Pretoria) where he was involved in cooperation between the two countries, including in setting up the South African Truth Commission.