[2] Born in the Netherlands, Onne van der Wal relocated to South Africa with his family as a toddler in 1959.
[8] In 1980, van der Wal visited Newport, Rhode Island with a friend and decided to settle there by 1985.
[3] Following an initial stint in the marine trade, he pivoted towards professional photography, encouraged by fellow sailor, Jim Adams.
[3] In 1987, he founded Onne van der Wal Photography, establishing his first Newport gallery in the early 2000s, later relocating to Banister's Wharf.
[9] van der Wal lives in Newport, Rhode Island with his wife, Tenley, and three children.