Mieneke van der Velden studied with Wieland Kuijken in The Hague and was awarded the soloist diploma in  in 1988. One of northern Europe's leading players, she has been invited to play at various festivals in the Netherlands, across Europe, and in Japan, Korea, Canada and Mexico, in a wide range of chamber-music ensembles as well as a soloist in renowned ensembles such as the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman), Concerto Vocale (René Jacobs), Collegium Vocale (Philippe Herreweghe), Les Talens Lyriques (Christophe Rousset) Netherlands Bach Society (Jos van Veldhoven), and Cantus Cölln (Konrad Junghänel).

She plays music ranging from the French viola da gamba repertoire, and 17th century English music, to Bach's obbligato solo arias and Cello-suites.

Mieneke van der Velden has recorded three discs with the Dutch label Channel Classics and six for Ramée, including with her ensemble L'Armonia Sonora, all of which have been enthusiastically received. She currently teaches viola da gamba at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where she has instituted a consort-tradition, together with the recorder- , lute- and singing-departments.

She plays two original French instruments, a bass viol made in 1617 by Antoine Despont, Paris, and a pardessus de viole made by Ludovic Guersan, Paris, 1768.