Helge Netland was born in 1959 in Bergen, Norway. He learned the art of bow making with Benoît Rolland in Brittany and later with Mitsuaki Sassano in Paris. Under their direction, he acquired the traditional construction techniques of the famous French bow makers of the past.

He now works in his workshop in Winterthur (near Zurich), Switzerland.

Very early on, he was trained as a violinist and therefore relies heavily on his long musical experience to create his bows.