| 1908 | Melle Johannes Oldeboerrigter is born on 27 May in Amsterdam (Wittenburg). |
| 1922 | Learns typesetting at the graphic school in Amsterdam. Attends drawing and lithography classes in the evenings. |
| 1925 | Employed at different printing works. |
| 1926 | Refuses to serve in the military; is later rejected. Meets dancer Marth Bruyn and later moves in with her. |
| 1930 | Typesetter at the Arbeiderspers. Produces drawings and paints watercolours in his spare time. Draws for political rags and illustrates books and jackets. |
| 1934 | Moves in with Marth at 62 Amsteldijk. The couple does not marry on principle. |
| 1938 | Starts to paint. | 1940 - '45 | Continues working for the Arbeiderspers; supplies type for the underground press, such as De Vonk. Moves in with Puck van Hilst at 90 Stadhouderskade in 1944 but keeps workshop at Amsteldijk. |
| 1945 | Quits job at the Arbeiderspers to devote all his time to art, draws under his pseudonym Frits for De Vlam. |
| 1953 | Moves to 26 Weteringschans. Starts teaching typesetting and typography at the Kunstnijverheidschool (now the Rietveld Academie) in Amsterdam. |
| 1955 | Marries Puck. |
| 1958 | Sensational debate about the analysis of Melle's work by psychiatrist C. van Emde Boas. |
| 1961 | Turns down an award from the Stichting Kunstenaarsverzet [Foundation of artists' resistance], because one of the jurors had been a member of the Kultuurkamer [formed by the Nazis for Dutch artists during World War II]. |
| 1967 | Receives the Keerkring Seal. At the Gerrit Rietveld art academy painting instruction is added to his duties. |
| 1968 | Companion of the Order of Orange Nassau |
| 1976 | Dies of a heart attack on 24 May. Buried at the Oosterbegraafplaats in Amsterdam. |