 The family lived on Nieuwendijk near the harbour.Between 1627 and 1633 he and Govert Flinck, both Mennonites, were pupils of Lambert Jacobsz in Leeuwarden, a mennonite teacher, father of Abraham Lambertsz van den Tempel, painter of religious work, and after moving to Amsterdam, a neighbor.In 1633 Backer returned to Amsterdam, and probably worked for Hendrick Uylenburgh.