He was married twice, first to Jeanne Marie Cochet and then, in 1888, to Rosa Hermans, with whom he had a son. During World War I he lived in Brussels, returning to Antwerp in 1919.
Genre scenes were his speciality, with an occasional portrait or seascape. Much of his inspiration came from the fishing communities in Zeeland. Many of his works are a series of similar interior scenes, created according to the wishes of his agents, Albert D'Huyvetter [nl] and Guillaume Campo (1880–1952). These generally consist of a room with a sunny window, occupied by women in traditional costume, engaged in some daily activity. These paintings were very popular, selling throughout Europe and the United States.