Born at Dordrecht, Van Beverwijck studied philosophy and medicine at Leiden (1611), then made a European tour, which he wrapped up with a graduation at Padua (1616). On returning to Dordrecht, he became town physician (in charge of the poor) and held several administrative offices. Van Beverwijck's work is mainly important for its contribution to popular medicine. His Schat der gesontheyt (Treasure of Health) and Schat der ongesontheyt (Treasure of Disease) are self-help manuals, for which he secured the collaboration of the poet Jacob Cats (1577–1660), who put Van Beverwijck's maxims into short rhymes. Other books take the form of an epistolary exchange, for example, on the question whether the end of life is fixed beforehand (so there is no point in fighting disease).

Van Beverwijck's contacts with Descartes in June 1643 (AT III 682) are part of a similar project: he wants Descartes’ explanation of the circulation of the blood for Epistolicae Quaestiones (1644). In his reply of July 5, 1643 (AT IV 3–6), Descartes marks his position with respect to William Harvey (1578–1657), more clearly than he had done in the Discourse on Method (AT VI 50–51, CSM I 136–37). He agrees with Harvey on the circulation of the blood but disagrees on the movement of the heart: whereas Harvey believes that the blood is pushed out by a contraction of the heart (systole), Descartes believes that the blood forces itself out by expanding under the influence of heat, that is, at the precise moment in which, according to Harvey, the ventricles relax (diastole) – which is also the view of modern medicine. Descartes’ main reason, however, to react positively to Van Beverwijck's request may have been that it provided him with an opportunity to publish his correspondence with Plempius (1601–71), Plempius's own publication of it (in Fundamenta medicinae 1638) being incomplete. There is no trace of a specifically Cartesian influence in Van Beverwijck's own work.

See also Harvey, William; Heart; Plempius, Vopiscus Fortunatus