willaerts (occasionally "willarts", "willers") was born in london to flemish parents who had fled from antwerp for religious reasons. by 1585 the family lived in leiden. from 1597 until his death, adam lived and worked in utrecht. he became a member of the utrecht guild of st. luke in 1611 and subsequently became its dean in 1620. his sons cornelis, abraham, and isaac followed in his footsteps.