Ten Holt was born in France to Dutch parents. He was a son of the painter Henri Friso ten Holt (1884-1968) and Catharina Maria Cox (1897-1978), and a brother of the composer Simeon ten Holt (1923-2012).
Ten Holt grew up in Bergen. He attended the Murmellius Gymnasium in Alkmaar, but graduated from the Rijks-HBS in that city. As an artist, he was first taught by his father and then trained at the Amsterdam Rijksacademie as a pupil of Johannes Hendricus Jurres. He painted landscapes, nudes, portraits and biblical scenes, among other things, and also made stained glass windows, engravings, lithographs and tapestries. His windows were executed by Toon Berg, among others.
Ten Holt travelled to France and Italy. He was fascinated by the balance in a composition, finding that balance was his constant quest. His subjects included cloudy skies, portraits, still lifes, and landscapes with beaches, dunes and polders beneath clouded skies. Ten Holt designed the windows of St Bavo's Church in Haarlem.
Ten Holt exhibited at home and abroad. His work is in the possession of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, the Rijksmuseum, the Kröller-Müller Museum, the Dutch National Art Collection, Museum Henriette Polak and of course private collections.
