Education Gerrit may have stopped attending school, but this did not signal the end of his education. He received private tuition in French, German and English, and discussed how best to improve his skills as an artist with the director of the Academie Minerva, Egenberger. Egenberger concluded that there was little more for him to learn at the Academie. Gerrit's uncle, Sam van Houten, his guardian since the death of his father, advised him to follow botany and zoology classes at the University. He did this for a short while, but it soon became clear that the classes were of little use to his drawing and painting. He learnt more about the theory and practice of drawing in perspective drawing lessons with S. Berghuis. Gerrit decided to sit the entrance exam to the Rijksacademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, but was rejected. On the advice of Uncle Mesdag he travelled to The Hague in October 1884, because he could follow lessons at the Academie there without sitting an entrance exam. However, this was not a success either, and Gerrit returned to Groningen after a few short months. He no longer took lessons and was thus left to his own devices. This he found difficult, and he became depressed. The shyness that was initially no more than a personality trait gradually became social withdrawal. To break out of this he went to stay with family, first in Almelo and then in Deventer, but his condition did not improve. On doctor's orders, he was admitted to a spa and sanatorium for nervous disorders in Laag Soeren. He stopped drawing altogether in his first weeks there, but in time began to enjoy it again. At the instigation of his mother, Gerrit left the sanatorium to stay with his uncle and aunt in Almelo, who lavished care and affection upon him. His condition improved somewhat, but this proved short-lived. As Gerrit's care was a burden on the family, his mother decided to move him elsewhere. Through an advertisement she came into contact with a Dr Fischer from Surhuisterveen, who was prepared to take Gerrit into his family. Gerrit moved to Friesland in September 1887, where he spent his time playing the piano and filling one sketchbook after the other. In 1890 he moved with the doctor and his family to Lippenhuizen, but Mrs Fischer's death in October 1891 marked the end of his stay