[1] Van Beek grew up in Oostzaan, and road for the local cycling team D.T.S., but did not participate in races for a while, because he did not dare to, as he said later.

[2] Van Beek became professional in 1947,[3] after winning the bronze medal as an amateur at the 1947 UCI Road World Championships.

[4] He was selected for the 1948 Tour de France[5] and was chosen as a substitute for the 1948 UCI Road World Championships, for professionals.

[2] On 15 March 1951 he had a flat tire and crashed[2] during a six-day race in Berlin, and died later in the hospital.

[7][8] Van Beek was well known in his community as a progressive working-class person, participating in local pacifist groups; he was one of the first signatories for a remembrance of the February strike.