Background
Van Hien was born in Elmina to Carel Hendrik David van Hien (1833—1864), a government official and Acting Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast, and Elizabeth Essuman (ca 1839—1930), sister of Willem Essuman Pietersen.
Van Hien was born in Elmina to Carel Hendrik David van Hien (1833—1864), a government official and Acting Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast, and Elizabeth Essuman (ca 1839—1930), sister of Willem Essuman Pietersen.
Early life and business career
He was educated at the Cape Coast Government School and, according to family tradition, went to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for further education (this was not uncommon for the Euro-African elite in Cape Coast and Elmina). When he returned to the Gold Coast in 1878, he began working as an agent for F. & A. Swanzy at Shama, and later for Alexander Miller Brothers at Accra and Winneba. In his later years he was based in Accra.
Political career
Educationism
Van Hien actively promoted the establishment of educational institutions in Cape Coast.
In 1923, Van Hien became a member of the Cape Coast Chamber of Commerce. A year later, he was installed as temporary unofficial member of the Gold Coast Legislative Council. From 1925 until 1927, he served as extraordinary member of the said Legislative Council, and later he served as member of the Cape Coast Town Council.