born 23 july 1886 in amsterdam, netherlands, daan started his career working for k.p.c. de bazel and h.a.j. en j. baanders, before becoming an independent architect in 1916. apart from his work as an architect, he was also active in several committees, such as the architectura et amicitia ("architecture and friendship") and the maatschappij tot bevordering der bouwkunst ("society for the promotion of architecture").