Lené te Voortwis studied bass guitar and double bass with Coos Serierse at the Rotterdam Conservatory. From 1988 to 1998 he taught bass guitar and ensembles at the Arnhem Conservatory. He has been a teacher at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam since 1990.

He toured at home and abroad with many artists, such as Daniel Sahuleka, Rick de Vito, Batida, Nadieh, Mathilde Santing, Michael Nyman, Boudewijn de Groot, Maria Markesini, Frank Boeijen, Rene Froger, Alessi Brothers, Julia Loko, Liesbeth List, Raymond van het Groenewoud and Stef Bos. Additionally, he contributed to many CDs in the Netherlands and Belgium, and is active as arranger and producer. He is a member of the Lonesome Orchestra.