Career
In 1874, Eggermont travelled to Egypt and Palestine and in 1876–1877, he travelled around the world. Possibly during the latter trip, Eggermont visited Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India. He was a councillor (conseiller, lower-grade diplomat) at the legation of Belgium in Japan, winter 1876–1877.
He travelled extensively and took notes and photographs that were the basis of his later monographs on Japan.
At the end of 1877, he was a secretary to the King of Belgium at Ghent. In 1885, he was first secretary of the legation of Belgium at Paris.
Descendants of the Eggermont family are still in diplomatic service today. In 1890, he acquired the Leignon castle.