Zuidema studied mathematics at VU University Amsterdam from 1960 to 1968.

Coen Zuidema participated in several highly competitive chess tournaments, including in Tel Aviv, in Saint Petersburg, and in Belgrade.

In 1963 he won the Niemeyer tournament for European players under 20.

His Elo rating is unchanged since 1977 and is 2450; this is also the highest number he has attained.

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