Jan Cornelius van Sambeek was born on 23 April 1886 at Veldhoven, Netherlands.

[3] In 1919 van Sambeek was assigned to the Chilubula mission in the Apostolic Vicariate of Bangweolo, in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia.

[2] He returned to Northern Rhodesia in December 1933 as Administrator of the new Mission Sui Juris of Lwangwa.

In 1936 he established the missions of Katibunga, Christ the King (Mpika) and Mulilansolo near Isoka and St. John the Apostle, (Chinsali).

[6] Van Sambeek was appointed Titular Bishop of Gergis and Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (now the Diocese of Sumbawanga).

[8] Van Sambeek was appointed Bishop of Kigoma, holding this position until he resigned on 22 November 1957.

[1] As bishop he translated many Christian works into the Ha language, and wrote a book on local customs.