Marten Toonder sr. is born on the 14th of November 1897 in Warffum into a tenant family. He works as a help to the isle of Rottum custodian at an early age. He finishes primary and secondary school in his twenties following a career as a sailor and boatswain.

Determined, he decides to further educate himself. He is one of the few Dutchmen to achieve professional qualifications as a helmsman for both ocean sail ships and the new intercontinental steamships.  In 1912 he is promoted to sea captain. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, the company appoints him as commodore of its shipping fleet.

When he is seventy-five, his son Jan Gerhard convinces him to write down his colourful life. He writes 'Klei en Zout Water' (Clay and Salt Water) - a touching story of his arduous life journey in becoming a Dutch merchant navy captain.

With his son Jan Gerhard Toonder he completes another two books, 'Eiland in de verte' (Island away) and 'De oudste ochtend' (Eldest Morn) which provides a more detailed description of the primitive conditions of his childhood in the north of Groningen.
 
In 1959 he receives an Order of Orange Nassau knighthood, based on the recommendation of three separate ministries – a Dutch Unicom. He dies in Leiden on the 24th of May, 1965.