In January 1882, he settled in The Hague, where he called on his cousin-in-law, Anton Mauve (1838–88), who was a Dutch realist painter and a leading member of the Hague School.
Nato je opravil trimesečni tečaj na Vlaamsche Opleidingsschool, protestantski misijonarski šoli v Laeknu, v bližini Bruslja.