His father, Gijsbert van Tienhoven (10 April 1801, Ameide), was a contractor of public works and landowner in Werkendam.

In 1860, Van Tienhoven started studying theology at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, but never finished the programme.

Van Tienhoven was elected into the municipal council of Amsterdam on 4 February 1874, and served as Alderman of Finance of the city from 14 November that same year until 1 January 1880.

At the same time, the rising population of the city necessitated initial measures in the field of social housing.

On 11 December 1879, Van Tienhoven was appointed, by Royal Decree, as Mayor of Amsterdam, taking office on 1 January the following year.

Under his mayorship, Amsterdam hosted a large international exhibition on colonisation and export in 1883, and saw the opening of the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Concertgebouw in 1885 and 1888 respectively.

Van Tienhoven left office on 21 August 1891, and gave up on his seat in the municipal council some two weeks later, on 3 September.

In the Prinsjesdag of that year, the new cabinet pledged to reform suffrage and the tax system, improve the safety and working conditions in factories, and introduce social insurance for old or cripples labourers.

He spent fourteen years as Queen's Commissioner, resigning on 1 August 1911 due to his old age and his private life.