Martin van de Merwe studied at the Rotterdam Conservatorium with Pieter Gouderjaan, and 3 years at the Folkwang Hochschule für Musik in Essen with Hermann Baumann, where he obtained his Soloist diploma in 1980. In 1981 he was awarded the Prix d'Excellence.

Since 1974 he has been a member of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, originally as third horn, and since 1983 as solo horn.

As a soloist Martin van de Merwe has performed with numerous conductors such as Edo de Waart, David Zinman, James Conlon, Valery Gergiev and Antonio Pappano, and in works which include those by Richard Strauss, Robert Schumann and Benjamin Britten.

As well as this he performs regularly in chamber music ensembles such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Horn Quartet, and in a trio with violinist Maria Dingjan and pianist Alla Libo.