Asser was born on April 28, 1838 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was the son of Carel Daniel Asser (1813-85), and grandson of Carel Asser (1780-1836). He studied law at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University and was law professor at the University of Amsterdam. Asser died on July 29, 1913 in The Hague, Netherlands, aged 75.