Born in Tournai, Haghe was a painter and watercolourist of continental views and historical genre. His right hand was deformed and he so he worked with his left. He studied lithography and came to London where he worked for Day and Son who published lithographs for David Roberts. From 1840-52 Haghe published many volumes of his own lithographs, all topographical views. After 1852 he devoted himself completely to watercolours. Haghe exhibited at the British Institute and the New Watercolour Society and was president of the latter from 1873-84. His favourite subjects were scenes in the old towns of Belgium and Germany, and cathedral interiors. His brother Charles (d.1888) was a lithographer, and they worked together.