In 1625 he enrolled at the University of Leiden and completed initial studies in natural history and philosophy under Gilbert Jachaeus (1578–1628) and Franco Petri Burgersdijk .

He then turned to medical studies, attending lectures by Otto Heurnius, Ewaldus Schrevelius, Adrian van Falkenburg (1581–1650) and Adolphus Vorstius.

Following an invitation (August 1639) from their Professor of Anatomy and Botany, van der Linden joined the University of Franeker, giving his introductory lecture on De medico futuro necessariis (On 26 November 1639) then enrolled in the registers on 2 December 1639.

An important fruit of his studies was the medical bibliography De Medici libri duo scriptis (Garrison-Morton 6744), which was enlarged through 3 editions while he lived, and then by later authors.

Linden, a great admirer of Hippocrates and Aristotle, seems in later years to have developed an interest in the philosophy of René Descartes.