 His artistic inspirations at the time include Vincent van Gogh and Käthe Kollwitz.It is at this time that his artistic talents and ambitions are noticed by family friend and Max van Dam's lifelong benefactor Dr. Jacob “Jaap” Hemelrijk, who persuaded his father to allow Van Dam to pursue an education in the arts.To continue his education Van Dam moved to Amsterdam where he first studied to become a grammar school art teacher.