Van der Burch was the son of Adrien van der Burch, president of the Council of Flanders. He himself became a member of the Council of Flanders, and on 10 November 1569 was appointed master of requests to the Great Council of Mechelen. The Duke of Alva also appointed him a commissioner of the Council of Troubles, responsible for identifying fugitives who had participated in the early stages of the Dutch Revolt and sequestering their property. When the city of Mechelen fell to the rebels in 1572, van der Burch was imprisoned, his house plundered and his servants killed. He was released and restored to his position when Alva retook the city.