[1] The younger brother of Dirk van Foreest, he thrice won Dutch Championship in 1889, 1893, and 1902.

He is the great-great grandfather of the siblings Jorden van Foreest, the 2016 Dutch Champion,[2] Lucas van Foreest, the 2019 Dutch Champion, and Machteld van Foreest, the 2022 Dutch Women's Champion.

By profession, van Foreest was an inspector at the Dutch postal company, and also held positions in the Dutch Chess Federation, including one year as president.

He also shared 1st with Frank James Marshall at Amsterdam 1911 (Quadrangular), and took 14th at Scheveningen 1913 (Alexander Alekhine won).

This biographical article relating to a Dutch chess figure is a stub.