Van Aelst was born in Gorinchem in 1988, and she attended the Merewade College secondary school between 2001 and 2007.

She obtained her bachelor's degree in 2009, and she completed a research master in early modern intellectual history in 2016.

[2] She became a member of the Provincial Council of South Holland in March 2007 on behalf of the SP.

Van Aelst also served on the Gorinchem Municipal Council between April 2017 and March 2018.

[2] She left the provincial council in early 2024 to became a member of the Senate following the resignation of Tiny Kox.