Van den Wyngaerde was probably born around 1525 in Antwerp. His father may also have been an artist, since an "Anton van den Wyngaerde" was registered in 1510 in the painter's guild of Antwerp. His first known work was a topographical view of Dordrecht from around 1544. Trained in the Antwerp school, his views were made by artistic observations from nature. From his body of work, he is known to have traveled to Italy, where he drew views of Rome, and to England.