In 1986 the Kuijken String Quartet was founded by early music specialist Sigiswald Kuijken, with François Fernandez, Marleen Thiers and his brother Wieland Kuijken. The ensemble specializes in the quartets and quintets of the Classical period, and is renowned for its important contribution to authentic playing of stringed instruments, especially in works of Haydn and Mozart. The quartet has made numerous acclaimed recordings and toured Europe and North America.

Since 1998 Sigiswald Kuijken occasionally brings together two generations Kuijken (his daughters Veronica and Sara and his brother Wieland) to perform string quartets of later periods, such as those by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Debussy. This quartet is also known as the Kuijken String Quartet.