d'Ancona applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1956 majoring in Sociology and obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science degree in June 1958 before graduating with a Master of Social Science degree in July 1962. d'Ancona worked as a television producer for the VARA from November 1962 until September 1965 and as a researcher at the University of Amsterdam from September 1965 until November 1972. d'Ancona also worked as a political activist in the feminism movement and co-founded the feminist action group Man Woman Society in October 1968. d'Ancona worked as editor-in-chief of the feminist magazine Opzij from November 1972 until September 1981. d'Ancona was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1974, taking office on 17 September 1974 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Housing and Spatial Planning and parliamentary committee for Culture, Recreation and Social Work and spokesperson for Emancipation and Gender equality.

After the election of 1981 d'Ancona was appointed as State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the Cabinet Van Agt II, taking office on 11 September 1981.

After the election of 1989 d'Ancona was appointed as Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture in the Cabinet Lubbers III, taking office on 7 November 1989.

[2][3] Outside of government, she is known for starting the feminist monthly Opzij as well as the special interest lobbying group, Man-Vrouw-Maatschappij (Man-Woman-Society), which she co-founded with Joke Smit.

In 1992, Hedy d'Ancona was awarded the Harriet Freezerring, a women's liberation prize, by the monthly Opzij she started.