Born in Haarlem, a sleepy town situated between Amsterdam and Leiden, Frederik Marinus Kruseman was one of seven children of Philip Benjamin Kruseman. His artistic talents were quickly recognised and he was enrolled at Stadstekenschool (City Drawing School), Haarlem, where he studied under Jan Reekers (1790-1858). In addition to this training, Kruseman also received painting lessons from Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (1805-1880), son-in-law and pupil of Andreas Schelfhout (1787-1870), whom Kruseman would have likely met as he frequently visited Roosenboom's studio. He later became a pupil of Barend Cornelius Koekkoek (1803-1862) before travelling extensively through Northern Europe. He works in Haarlem, Amsterdam and The Hague between 1833 and 1856, the majority of which were winter landscapes. Except for a short return to Haarlem, Kruseman lived in Brussels from 1841 until his death in 1882