Jan Pieter Bos was born in Papendrecht, South Holland, Netherlands on 12 July 1891. He attended school until the age of 12, before beginning to work as a skipper on his father’s ship.

On 24 December 1930, he married Johanna Suringh in Huissen, Gelderland. Tragedy almost struck the newlywed couple on their wedding day, as they mistakenly drove into a body of water and became trapped in their car. He and his family were forcefully transported to Nazi Germany to work during World War II, but were able to escape via connections with a resistance movement.

He worked as a sailor until the age of 70, before retiring. His wife died in 1986, after over 55 years of marriage. He lived independently until the age of 100, before moving into a retirement community At the time of his 106th birthday, he was still able to do his household chores by himself, and needed very little assistance in his daily life.

Jan Pieter Bos died in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 15 December 2002 at the age of 111 years, 156 days