He received several years of secondary education at the Royal Atheneum at the Voskenslaan in Ghent, which in view of his humble origins was at the time rather exceptional.

He became employed as a journalist of the magazine De Volkswil, later transformed into the socialist daily Vooruit!

This was the start of a complete range of cooperative ventures which in the long term would create an industrial empire.

This way, Anseele tried to create a counterweight to the capitalist ventures, and was able to provide support to workers' actions.

During World War I the Germans offered him the title of President of Belgium, which he declined.