He was educated at the Institut Saint-Louis in Brussels, spending his vacations in the Ardennes at Bagimont (now a subdivision of Vresse-sur-Semois).

He took the candidature in law at the Faculté Saint-Louis in Brussels, spent some time in Bonn, and completed his studies at the Catholic University of Louvain.

[1] He was a founding member of L'Escholier and the Société Générale Bruxelloise des Etudiants Catholiques ("Gé"), and a regular contributor to new reviews such as Le Drapeau, Durendal, and Le Spectateur catholique.

They lived in Brussels, with a summer home in the Ardennes at Maissin (now a subdivision of Paliseul).

[1] During the First World War he was an active defence lawyer for Belgians brought before the tribunals established by the forces of occupation.