[1] Wolrad was born on 27 March 1509[2][3][note 1] as the second son of Count Philip III of Waldeck-Eisenberg and his first wife Countess Adelaide of Hoya.

Then Wolrad studied in Bielefeld and at the court of the Prince-bishop Érard de la Marck in Liège.

[5] Wolrad was first a clergyman[5] and from 1520[3] he was canon of St. Gereon's Basilica in Cologne, but in 1544 he resigned that position in favour of his half-brother Philip V [nl].

After the death of his father in 1539, Wolrad took possession of it because his brother Otto renounced it and joined the Order of Saint John.

[5] Because of his excellent education, Landgrave Philip I took Count Wolrad II with him as an auditor at the Regensburger Religionsgespräch [de] in 1546.

On the other hand, the Schmalkaldic League, which was founded in 1531 under the leadership of Elector John Frederick I of Saxony and Landgrave Philip I by representatives of Protestant regions and cities, was preparing itself.

[5] Therefore, he summoned them under threat of the imperial ban to the Diet of Augsburg in 1548, so that they would answer for their participation in the army of the Schmalkaldic League and reconcile with him.

[8] Wolrad travelled to Augsburg with his half brothers Philip V, who as a Catholic clergyman had been on the side of the Protestants, and John I, as well as with Samuel, who had not been summoned at all.

After Wolrad arrived in Augsburg on 14 April 1548, weeks passed by during which the Counts of Waldeck sought – and finally found – advocates.

Philip and John had to pay him 5,000 guilders, Wolrad even 8,000, because he had turned against the Emperor in word and deed more than the other counts, so it was said.

On 12 August the Emperor also issued a letter of protection for Countess Dowager Anne and for Wolrad, Philip and John.

Wolrad had his ministers meet on 14 August 1548 to hear their opinions and urged them not to deviate from the path of Protestantism.

However, the collection of taxes from the estates of the realm was difficult and forced the long overdue improvement of the administration of the county.

[10] The counts Wolrad II, Philip IV, John I and Samuel issued a church order in 1556 after a synod in Volkhardinghausen [de].