Born to Dutch parents in Java, Henk Badings went to the Netherlands in 1915 as an orphan. He studied the violin but, adopted by a pastor and his family, trained as a geologist. As a composer he was largely self-taught, although he did study for a while with Pijper. During the German occupation he held official positions in the Dutch musical establishment which he was compelled to surrender after the war, concentrating thereafter on composition and on musical journalism. He developed an interest in electronic music, and as a composer he achieved considerable international success, with many compositions in all genres.