 Van Dijk's musical background began on the piano at the age of six.In 1944, he took up preparatory piano studies with Corrie Vierdag  at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.From the age of 18, Van Dijk continued as a full-time student at the conservatory studying piano with Leon Orthel, oboe with Jaap Stotijn, and composition and analysis with Hendrik Andriessen.