He was a pianist, accordionist, church organist, and carillonist, an improviser and a composer.

Van Hove studied musical theory, harmony and piano in Belgium.

[1] He began an association with saxophonist Peter Brötzmann in 1966, playing on his early quartet and sextet recordings including 1968's Machine Gun album, and then as part of a trio with Brötzmann and drummer Han Bennink.

Van Hove later played in a number of duos, notably with saxophonists Steve Lacy and Lol Coxhill and with trombonists Albert Mangelsdorff and Vinko Globokar.

[1] He composed music for film and theatre, and taught local musicians in Berlin.