He was the son of the writer Isidoor Teirlinck and Oda van Nieuwenhove. He started studies at the universities of Brussels and Ghent, but left the universities very soon. From 1902 to 1906 he worked for the Brussels city government. As a journalist, he worked for newspapers and magazines. Teirlinck also wrote for the journal "Van Nu en Straks". He was some time teacher in high school. He was also appointed as teacher of Dutch language at the Royal Court of Belgium. Later he became private councillor for several kings of Belgium. In 1946 he founded a national drama school, the Studio of the National Theatre. In 1966 it was renamed the ""Hoger Instituut voor Dramatische Kunst"" (Higher Institute of Dramatic Art). In 1967 it was renamed again as "The Studio Herman Teirlinck".