Sybren Valkema was raised in an anthroposophic, artistic and politically left-wing environment, his parents were both cultural and socially engaged.
Several years later he took over from Paul Schuitema in the department of advertising design evening classes (The Sybren Valkema Archive and The Netherlands Institute for Art History).
In 1943 he became drawing instructor for the introductory year at IvKNO, Instituut voor Kunstnijverheidsonderwijs (later renamed Gerrit Rietveld Academie), where the director, architect Mart Stam, strived for a progressive higher education for industrial design in the spirit of 'Bauhaus'.
In the summer of 1945, classes resumed at Leerdam: Valkema was a highly appreciated teacher and an important cultural influence on his students (decorators, designers, glassmakers).
[3] He also took part in the 'Leerdam' contributions to an increasing number of international exhibitions - including the 'Expo 58' World Fair in Brussels, where the entire Leerdam pavilion was awarded the 'Grand Prix'.
As a member of official committees and through the IvKNO and the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, he became increasingly involved in the currents of change going on in art education.
As a representative of the Dutch Ministry of Culture Sybren Valkema took part in the charter meeting of the World Crafts Council in New York 1964, where he immediately recognised the possibilities for free glass making as offered by the small-scale furnace developed by Dominick Labino and presented by Harvey Littleton.