 He was born in Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde, the only child of baker Karel Moens and Johanna Moreels.Between 1916 and 1918 he studied German philology at Von Bissing University (the Flemish version of the University of Ghent set up during the German occupation).He was a member of the Flemish Movement, and after the First World War he was imprisoned for his activities during the war.