Rodenbach attended the Minor Seminary, Roeselare, where he was exposed to the ideas of the Flemish literature movement by Hugo Verriest and others.

[3] Their ideology was a mixture of the philosophy Guido Gezelle, with the romantic nationalism of Hendrik Conscience, and the righteousness of true belief.

Robenbach and de Mont called their student movement Blauwvoeterie after the blauwvoet (blue-footed booby) whose flight announces the coming storm.

[4] Additionally, Rodenbach made contacts with the Flemish liberals, such as poet Jan van Beers and author Max Rooses, which served to publicize the movement and to expose its members to more political aims.

[5][6] Rodenbach died in Roeselare of tuberculosis before his 24th birthday, and almost immediately became the pre-eminent symbol of the Flemish student movement.

[8] Rodenbach was known at the time of his death for his songs, poems and tonal works which have remained inspiring symbols for the Flemish movement.