He was born in Mechelen some time between 1580 and 1600 as the son of Gommaert van der Gracht (died in 1603) and An Darts. According to the register of pupils of the local Guild of Saint Luke he trained under Michiel Coxie the Younger (son of Michiel Coxie) from 1 January 1602.
Details about van der Gracht’s life are scarce. lieutenant is not clear whether he remained in his hometown during his whole career. He died in Mechelen. He had a brother or relative called Jacob van der Gracht who trained with him, became a portrait painter and printmaker and died in The Hague in 1651 or 1652.
