He studied percussion and orchestra conducting at the Rotterdam Conservatory under Edo de Waart and David Porcelijn.
With this orchestra he gives about 60 concerts a year in France and he has toured the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Japan.
He is also the permanent conductor of the Doelenensemble, which specializes in repertoire from the 20th and 21st century, and which has created many CD recordings.
He is particularly interested in contemporary music, and has conducted first performances of works by such composers as Karol Beffa, Guillaume Connesson, Kaija Sarraiho, Aulis Sallinen, Peter-Jan Wagemans, Klaas de Vries, Hans Koolmies, Domenique Lemaitre, Andre Serre-Milan, Jean-Pascal Beintus and Suzanna Giraud.
[1] In November 2003 the city of Rotterdam gave Arie van Beek the Elly Ameling Prize for his work as conductor during the last 30 years.