[1][2] After receiving his early education in Sint-Michielsgestel, he began his studies for the priesthood and attended the diocesan seminary in Haaren.

[1] While still a seminarian, Van de Ven accepted an appeal from Archbishop Francis Janssens of New Orleans for missionaries in the United States.

[4] He received his episcopal consecration on November 30, 1904, from Archbishop Placide Chapelle, with Bishops Thomas Heslin and Gustave Rouxel serving as co-consecrators, at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

[7] The most important act of Van de Ven's administration was transferring the seat of the diocese from Natchitoches to Alexandria, a railroad town with a large Catholic population.

Van de Ven recruited the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word to the diocese, where they established North Louisiana's first Catholic hospital (Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport) and St. Joseph's orphanage.