Lier, Belgium
Turnhout was employed first at Antwerp, then at the Church of St Gummarus, Lier, Belgium, ("maître de chapelle" 1559), then in 1562 back to the Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) where he was made "maître de chant" in 1563. On 2 May 1571 Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba engaged Turnhout as maestro de capilla of the Capilla Flamenca Philip II of Spain in Madrid to succeed Jean de Bonmarché. Turnhout arrived in Madrid with a group of singers from the Low Countries. He remained there until his death, when he was succeeded by George de La Hèle.