André Rieu was born on October 1, 1949 in Maastricht in the Netherlands. He began studying violin at the age of five. He was raised in a musical family (six children) and his father was also a conductor. From a very young age he developed a fascination with the Orchestra form. He studied violin at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and in the Conservatorium Maastricht, (1968–1973). His teachers included Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers. From 1974 to 1977, he attended the Music Academy in Brussels, studying with André Gertler. At that Academy, he won the Premier Prix.

At University he performed the Gold And Silver waltz by Franz Lehár and was impressed by the audience reaction, so he decided to pursue the waltz form. He formed the Maastricht Salon Orchestra and performed as a violinist with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1987, he created the Johann Strauss Orchestra and his own production company. Since then, his melodramatic stage performances and rock-star-style demeanor have for some been associated with a revival of the waltz music category; others, however, have criticized Rieu for his unrestrained populism and uncritical embrace of consumer culture.