Kimpe began his career as an engineer. In 1923 Kimpe became ill and consequently abandoned his work as an engineer. While in recovery he dedicated himself to painting, which became his life’s work.
Kimpe’s most prolific period was during World War II, between 1939 and 1945. This productivity was a result of the early bombings that devastated the town of Middelburg including his studio and over 200 hundred paintings. After the bombings he became more and more reclusive. This solitude was of great artistic benefit to Kimpe because he escaped the cruel restrictions that the Nazi’s imposed on other artists. As a result of the Nazi’s regulations, several of Kimpe’s friends deserted their art practices. Many of his paintings illustrate his interest in the sea and seafaring paraphernalia. All of his paintings are deeply symbolic. Kimpe’s paintings were first shown in 1922 at the Den Haag Kunstzaal Toorop and then in 1924 at the Middelburg Kunstmuseum. Kimpe exhibited his works almost every year in Belgium and the Netherlands. He showed his work in 1930 at La Galerie Themis in Belgium. Kimpe lived in Paris for a time beginning in 1929, in1931 and 1932 he exhibited with the Surindéndants. It was in this period he met Picasso and Chagall.
Kimpe’s works have been acquired by many museums.