He studied to become a teacher at an elementary school, but in 1943 he started to work for the Suriname newspaper.

After Frederik Lim A Po gave up his position at the Estates of Suriname Wijngaarde won the by-election on May 1, 1947.

Just like David Findlay, he combined being a member of the parliament with working as a journalist.

At the 1949 Surinamese general election Wijngaarde was re-elected and he became NPS-Parliamentary leader.

[4][better source needed] His brother Edgar Wijngaarde [nl] was a businessman and government minister.