Cornelis Christiaan (Kees) Berg was born in Rotterdam-West on 18 December 1900. He went to elementary school in his own neighbourhood, where his intelligence and aptitude for learning were soon noticed and rewarded by private lessons from his headmaster and a clergyman. For his further education at a grammar school, Berg was sent to Schiedam. The parents of this promising young boy could though not afford the tuition fees and money was raised by their church and a family member to ensure the further education of the boy. When he passed his final exams on 2 July 1919, Berg had already, besides French, German, English, Latin and Greek, an amazingly good command of Hebrew. He was obviously predisposed for an academic career. His future as a brilliant student and scholar proved his choice to be the right one. Thanks to a grant from the Department of Colonies, Berg could matriculate at the University of Leiden on 23 September 1919. On 9 June 1922 he obtained his Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Arabic and Islam, Sanskrit and the Cultural History of India and Geography of the Indonesian Archipelago, followed on 20 March 1925 by a Master’s degree (MA) in Javanese, Austronesian Comparative Linguistics, Ancient History and Archaeology. Berg studied Javanese with G.A.J. Hazeu (1870-1929), and took his doctorate cum laude on 8 July 1927 with his thesis on the Middle Javanese historical tradition (De Middeljavaansche historische traditie).

Berg left for Java at the end of 1927, accompanied by his wife and first child, and was appointed teacher in Javanese language and literature at the secondary school (Algemene Middelbare School) in Solo, and later Yogyakarta.

Berg’s stay in Java would be unexpectedly short. In late 1828, his mentor and doctoral supervisor, Prof. Hazeu, resigned for health reasons. Berg was appointed to replace him at the chair of Javanese at Leiden University. Before embarking for the Netherlands, Berg undertook a study trip to Bali where he collected many copies of manuscripts and to the Philippines. Back in Leiden, Berg held his inaugural lecture on 20 February 1929 on the history of Javanese literature (Hoofdlijnen der Javaansche literatuurgeschiedenis).

In 1938, Berg was granted a leave from the Leiden university, primarily to conduct a linguistic survey of local dialects in the districts of Java and Madura. With their respective superiors’ assent, Berg and his colleague G.W.J. Drewes (1899-1992), professor at the High School of Law in Batavia (Jakarta), agreed to change places. Drewes departed for the Netherlands, whereas Berg left for Java with his family. In his luggage he carried the Philips recording equipment necessary for Berg’s purpose.

Berg’s activities in Java suddenly came to an end when the Japanese invaded Java in March 1942. He and his family were fortunate to survive the Japanese internment and could return home safely in 1946. Berg resumed his professor’s duties at Leiden University, and in 1949 accepted the newly-created chair of Austronesian linguistics. Berg was rector of Leiden university in 1948-1949.

In addition to his professorship in Leiden, Berg was appointed in 1951 to the post of professor for the History and Development of the Indonesian Language (Bahasa Indonesia), attached to the >Royal Institute of the Tropics (Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen) in Amsterdam.

Berg retired from his position at Leiden University on 20 September 1971. As emeritus professor, he continued his scholarly work and added several publications to his impressive bibliography, in particular the second volume of his magnum opus (Māyā's hemelvaart in het Javaanse Boeddhisme). He passed away on 25 June 1990, leaving a third volume unpublished.

Berg was member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen) from 1947 onwards.

In 1925 Berg, who was also musician and a talented singer, married Alida Apollonia van Ulden (d. 1978), a talented pianist. The couple had five daughters and two sons. The well-known botanist Cornelis Christian Berg (1934-2012) was one of Berg’s nephews.

In Berg’s biographical sketch, J. Soegiarto deserves special mention: Soegiarto accompanied Berg to the Netherlands in 1929 and was part of Berg’s household for many years. Soegiarto was assistant to Professor Berg and his successors at the chair of Javanese for more than thirty years. His numerous romanised transcripts and summaries of literary works held at the Leiden University Library are valued aids for the students of Javanese and Javanese-Balinese literature.