 Van Dam primarily lived in Antwerp but moved frequently between the Netherlands and Belgium and also travelled to Italy and France, to develop his painting skills and improve on his social awareness.In 1932 van Dam designed a stained-glass window for "De Dageraad", the work was finished in 1934.That same year he designed the poster for the "Demonstration for Socialism and Democracy", organised, for September 16, by the SDAP and the "Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen", the Dutch Association of Trade Unions.