Translated with Google Translate. Original text show .
De Laat was born in 's-Hertogenbosch in 1900 as the son of the house and decorative painter Gerardus Johannes Maria de Laat and Maria Elisabeth Pierson. At the age of 11, De Laat took Frans Kops' evening course at the Royal School (later KTA) in 's-Hertogenbosch. From 1915 to 1917 he took part-time drawing and painting courses at this school with Barend Bouwmeester, Frans Kops, Piet Slager Jr. and André Verhorst. At the age of 16 he won two first prizes, one for drawing and one for painting. In 1917 his father died at the age of 51, making him the breadwinner for his mother and sister and meaning that further study did not materialize for the time being. Yet his first exhibition was opened on September 24, 1921.