Karel Van Rijn started his career in 1887 as a supernumerary on 'De Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg' in Antwerp. He started at school his own stage-group 'De Goudbloem' (1888-1890). From 1892 till he worked as an actor with 'Het Lyrisch Toneel' in Antwerp. In 1893 he started to studying arts on the academy of dramatic arts in Antwerp.