He studied mathematics, astronomy and philosophy at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and is a reporter at the VRT, where he produces history television documentaries.

[1] Since its foundation in 1976, he was active in the working group Prometheus of the Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde (Society for Astronomy), that focused on the critical investigation of pseudoscience.

In 2000, its Flemish counterpart Wonder en is gheen wonder was founded, where he has since been member of the editorial staff and regularly publishes articles.

Since 1988, he is also editorial board member of the popular science magazine Zenit for astronomy, meteorology and space research.

Since 2013, Trachet is vice-chairman[3] (previously as treasurer[2]) in the board of directors of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO), of which he was one of the founders in 1994.