Ծնվել է կոմպոզիտորի ընտանիքում, տաղն կոմպոզիտոր Հենդրիկ Անդրիսենն էր (1892-1981), կոմպեզիտորներ էին նաև նրա քույրը և եղբայրը։ Սովորել է Հաագայի Թագավորական կոնսերվատորիայում՝ հոր և Լուչանո Բերիոյի մոտ (1962-1965)։ 1959 թվականի նա արժանացել է իր կոմպոզիտորական առաջին մրցանակին՝ «Гаудеамус»: Ստրավինսկոյի ազդեցությունը մեծ էր ամերիկական ջազում, որտեղից եկավ ոչ ռոմանտիկ ոճը, որը մերժում էր ավանդական սիմֆոնիկ խմբին։ Նա աշխատել է նաև կինոյում։ Համագործակցել է Փիթեր Գրինուեի հետ (օպերա Վարդ՝ կոմպոզիտորի մահից հետո (1994), Վերմերի նամակները (1999), գրել է Անդրիսենը իր լիբրետոյի համար), խոշոր նիդեռլանդացի բանաստեղծների և արձակագիրների հետ՝ Հյուգո Կլաուսի, Հարի Մյուլիշի, Լյուսեբերտի, Սիբլեն Պոլետի և այլոց հետ։ Բազում անգամներ եղել է Ռուսաստանում պալատական և սիմֆոնիկ համերգների (Մոսկվա, Սանկտ Պետերբուրգ)։
Nuit d'été (1957) for piano 4 hands
Séries (1958) for 2 pianos
Nocturnen (1959) (text by the composer) for 2 sopranos, orchestra
Trois Pièces (1961) for piano left hand
Ittrospezione I (1961) for piano 4 hands
Joli commentaire (1961) for piano 4 hands
Étude pour les timbres (1962) for piano
Triplum (1962) for guitar
Ittrospezione II (1963) for large orchestra
Registers (1963) for piano
Ittrospezione III (Concept II) - Fragment (1965) tenor saxophone ad libitum, 2 pianos (section of Ittrospezione III [Concept II]; may be performed separately)
Souvenirs d’enfance (1966) for piano
Anachronie I (1966-67) for large orchestra
The Garden of Ryoan-gi (1967) for 3 electronic organs
Choralvorspiele (1969) for barrel organ
Anachronie II (1969) for oboe, small orchestra, 1969; Hoe het is, 52 strings, live electronics
Reconstructie (1969) (with Reinbert de Leeuw, Misha Mengelberg, Peter Schat, Jan van Vlijmen, libretto by Hugo Claus, Harry Mulisch) Morality opera for soloists, 3 mixed choruses (4 voices each), orchestra (11 winds, 7 brass, 2 guitars, 11 keyboards, 10 strings), live electronics
De negen symfonieën van Beethoven (1970) for ice cream bell, orchestra
Spektakel (1970) for improvisational ensemble, small orchestra (12 winds, 4 horns, 6 percussion)
In Memoriam (1971) for tape
Canzone 3.Utinam (1972) (text from the Book of Job) for soprano, piano, 1962; Thanh Hoa (text by Nguyen Thay Mao), voice, piano
Il Duce (1973) for tape
Il Principe (1974) (text by Niccolo Machiavelli) for 2 mixed choruses, 8 winds, 3 horns, tuba, bass guitar, piano
Wals (1974) 1974 for piano
Symfonieën der Nederlanden (1974) for 2 or more symphonic bands (minimum 32 players)
De Staat (1972-74) (text by Plato) for 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 4 oboes (3rd, 4th + English horn), 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, 2 harps, 2 electric guitars, 4 violas, bass guitar, 2 pianos
De Staat (1972-76) for 2 pianos (version of vocal work)
Nederland, let op uw schoonheyt (1975) for symphonic band
Workers Union (1975) for any loud sounding group of instruments
Mattheus passie (1976) (text by Louis Ferron) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 2 oboes (both + English horn), Hammond organ, string quartet, double bass
Hoketus (1975-76) for 2 panpipes, 2 alto saxophones ad libitum, 2 bass guitars, 2 pianos, 2 electric pianos, 2 congas
Orpheus (1977) (text by Lodewijk de Boer) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, lyricon, electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, percussion
Symphonie voor losse snaren (1978) for 12 strings
Laat toch vrij de straat (1978) (text by Jaap van der Merwe) for voice, piano
Hymne to the Memory of Darius Milhaud (1978) (version of chamber work)
Felicitatie (1979) for 3 trumpets
Mausoleum (1979 rev. 1981) (texts by Mikhail Bakunin, Arthur Arnould) for 2 high baritones, orchestra (12 brass, 2 harps, cimbalom, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, minimum 10 strings, bass guitar)
George Sand (1980) (text by Mia Meyer) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 4 pianos
Un beau baiser (1980) for mixed chorus
De Tijd (1979-81) (text by St.Augustine of Hippo) for female chorus, percussion ensemble, orchestra (6 flutes, 2 alto flutes, 3 clarinets, contrabass clarinet, 6 trumpets, 2 harps, 2 pianos, Hammond organ, strings, 2 bass guitars)
Commentaar (1981) (text by Wilhelm Schon) for voice, piano
Ende (1981) for 2 alto recorders (1 player)
La voce (1981) (to a text by Cesare Pavese) for cello, voice
Disco (1982) violin, piano
Overture to Orpheus (1982) for harpsichord
De Snelheid (1982-83 rev. 1984) for 3 amplified ensembles
Y después (1983) (text by Federico Garcia Lirca) for voice, piano
Menuet voor Marianne (1983) for piano
Trepidus (1983) for piano
Doctor Nero (1984) Music theatre work
Berceuse voor Annie van Os (1985) for piano
De Lijn (1986) for 3 flutes
Dubbelspoor (1986 rev. 1994) Ballet music for piano, harpsichord, celesta, glockenspiel
De Materie (1984-88)(texts from the Plakkaat van Verlatinge, Nicolaes Witsen, David Gorlaeus, Hadewijch, M.H.J.Schoenmaekers, Madam van Domselaer-Middelkoop, Willem Kloos, Maria Curie, Françoise Giroud) Music theatre work for soprano, tenor, 2 female speakers, 8 amplified mixed voices, amplified orchestra (15 winds, 13 brass, harp, 2 electric guitars, 2 pianos [one + electric piano], off-stage upright piano, celesta, 2 synthesizers, 6 percussion, minimum 9 strings, bass guitar. Two of its four sections may be performed separately as concert works: [2] Hadewijch, [3] De Stijl
De Toren (1988, rev. 2000) for carillon
Nietzsche redet (1989) (text by Friedrich Nietzsche) for speaker, alto flute, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, double bass, 2 pianos
Facing Death (1990) for amplified string quartet
Dances (1991) (text by Joan Grant, choreography by Bianca van Dillen) For soprano, small orchestra (amplified harp, amplified piano, percussion, strings). May be performed as a concert work.
M is for Man, Music, Mozart (1991) (texts by the composer, Jeroen van der Linden, Peter Greenaway) for female jazz voice, flute (+ piccolo), soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, double bass, piano (TV score; may be performed as a concert work with one additional song)
Lacrimosa (1991) for 2 bassoons
Hout (1991) for tenor saxophone, electric guitar, piano, marimba (+ woodblocks)
Romance voor Caecilia (1991) for piano
Nadir en Zenit (1992) improvisations on poems by Sybren Polet for voice, piano (+ synthesizer)
…not being sundered (1992) (text by Rainer Maria Rilke) for soprano, flute, cello
Song Lines (1992) for 3-6 saxophones
Deuxième chorale (1992) for music box
The Memory of Roses (1992) for piano (+ toy piano)
Chorale (1992) for piano
M is Muziek, Monoloog en Moord(1993) (text by Lodewijk de Boer) Music theatre work
Lied (1993) for piano
Rosa: The Death of a Composer (1993-94) (libretto by Peter Greenaway) Opera for 2 sopranos, tenor, 2 baritones, female speaker, 8 mixed voices, orchestra.
Een lied van de zee (1994) (text by Hélène Swarth) for female voice
Zilver (1994) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, vibrqphone, marimba
Base (1994) for piano left hand
Odysseus’ Women (1995) (text by Homer, choreography by Beppie Blankert) for 2 sopranos, 2 altos, sampler
De komst van Willibrord (1995) for carillon
To Pauline O (1995) for oboe
Machmes Wos (1996) for voice, piano
Trilogie van de Laatste Dag (1996-97) (each of its three sections may be performed separately: (i) The Last Day (texts by Lucebert, folksong A Woman and Her Lass) for boy soprano, 4 male voices, orchestra; (ii) TAO (texts by Laozi, Kotaro Takamura) for 4 female voices, piano [+ voice, koto], small orchestra [5 winds, 2 horns, harp, piano (+ celesta), 2 percussion, minimum 14 strings]; (iii) Dancing on the Bones (text by the composer) for children’s chorus, orchestra, 1997)
De herauten (1997) for 3 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani
Not an Anfang (1997) for piano
De eerste minnaar (1998) (text by Ton Tellegen) for boy soprano, organ, 1998 (section of music theatre work Oldenbarneveldt; may be performed as a concert work)
Tuin van Zink (1998) for viola, live electronics
Writing to Vermeer (1997-99) (libretto by Peter Greenaway) Opera for 2 children’s voices, 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, female chorus, orchestra (7 winds, 2 horns, 2 trumpets [2nd + bass trumpet], 2 harps, 2 electric guitars, cimbalom, 2 pianos, on-stage harpsichord, 2 percussion, minimum 22 strings), CD (music by Michel van der Aa)
Woodpecker (1999) for percussion
Image de Moreau (1999) for piano
Dirck Sweelinck Missed the Prince (1999) for harpischord
What Shall I Buy You, Son? (2000) for voice, piano
Boodschappenlijstje van een gifmengster (2000) (text by the composer) for vocalist (also writes), voice (may be performed as Shopping List of a Poisoner
Inanna’s Descent (2000) for mezzo-soprano, piccolo, oboe, violin, piano, 2 percussion ensembles (4-12 total players)
The New Math(s) (2000) (text by Hal Hartley) for soprano, transverse flute, violin, marimba, CD (music by Michel van der Aa), 2000 (film score; may be performed as a concert work)
Feli-citazione (2000) for piano
Passeggiata in tram in America e ritorno (2001) (text by Dino Campana) for female Italian voice, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, electric guitar, electric violin, double bass, piano, percussion, 1998 (also version for voice, flute, horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, amplified violin, double bass, piano
De vleugels van de herinnering (2001) (text by Larissa Tiginachvili) for voice, piano
Fanfare om te beginnen (2001) for 6 groups of horns
La Passione (2000-02) (text by Dino Campana) for female jazz voice, violin, small orchestra (7 winds, 7 brass, electric guitar, cimbalom, 2 pianos, synthesizer, 2 percussion, 3 violins, bass guitar)
Very Sharp Trumpet Sonata (2002) for trumpet
Strijkkwartet No. 2, 'Tuin van Eros' (2002) for string quartet
Klokken voor Haarlem (2002) for piano, celesta, synthesizer, vibraphone (+ glockenspiel)
Inanna (2003) texts by Hal Hartley, Theo J.H.Krispijn) for 4 voices, 3 actors, mixed chorus, contrabass clarinet, 4 saxophones, violin, film (by Hal Hartley)
Letter from Cathy (2003) (text from a letter by Cathy Berberian to the composer) for female jazz voice, harp, violin, double bass, piano, percussion
Tuin van Eros (2003) for violin, piano
RUTTMANN Opus II, III, IV (2003) for flute, 3 saxophones, horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, double bass, piano
Haags Hakkuh - The Hague Hacking (2003) for 2 pianos
Racconto dall’inferno (2004) (text by Dante Alighieri) for female jazz voice, small orchestra (8 winds, 6 brass, guitar, cimbalom, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, minimum 8 strings, bass guitar
De Opening (2005) for ensemble (combined Orkest De Volharding, ASKO Ensemble, Schoenberg Ensemble)
Vermeer Pictures (2005) concert suite for orchestra from Writing to Vermeer (arrangement by Clark Rundell)
XENIA (2005) for violin
Hymne to the memory of Darius Milhaud for ensemble (1974/2006)
Hellende Fanfare (Inclined fanfare; Fanfara inclinata) (2006) for voice and ensemble (Text by Dino Campana)
Raadsels (Riddle) (2006) for solo violin
Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude in b minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier BWV 866, arranged for string quartet with the first six bars augmented with a viola part by Igor Stravinsky, completed by Louis Andriessen (2006)
..miserere... (2006–07) for string quartet
The City of Dis or: The Ship of Fools (2007) for voices and ensemble. Part I of La Commedia (2004–08)
La Commedia (2004–08). Film opera in five parts (texts by Dante and Vondel and from the Old Testament)
Haags Hakkûh (The Hague Hacking) (2008) for two pianos and large ensemble
Christiaan Andriessens uitzicht op de Amstel (Christiaan Andriessen's view on the river Amstel) (2009) for ensemble
Life (2009) for ensemble, with film by Marijke van Warmerdam
Anaïs Nin (2009/10) for singer, ensemble and film
La Girò (2011), for violin solo & ensemble
Часы Аполлона. О Стравинском. СПб: Институт ПРО АРТЕ; Академический Проект, 2003 (в соавторстве с Элмером Шенбергером).
Украденное время. СПб: Культ-Информ-Пресс, 2005.
The Music of Louis Andriessen/ Maja Trochimczyk, ed. New York: Routledge, 2002.
Everett Y.U. The Music of Louis Andriessen. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2007.
Северина И.Классик-неакадемист// Играем с начала. Da capo al fine: Газета.—М., 2013.— №12 (116).