[1] Andries descended from a well-known family from the Sticht, the name for the central lands of the Bishopric of Utrecht.
[citation needed] He was the first bishop of Utrecht since the Concordat of Worms in 1122, where the Investiture Controversy between the emperor and the pope over the right to appoint bishops was decided in favour of the pope.
[citation needed] In 1133, Andries became involved in a war with Dirk VI, Count of Holland, who was supported by the city of Utrecht and several servants of the bishop.
Dirk was granted the Gaue of Westergo and Oostergo by Conrad III of Germany.
These lands had previously been confiscated by Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor from Andries' predecessor, bishop Burchard.