Following a career in a completely different area, Adriaan studied at the academy of music in Maastricht and graduated cum laude. At the academy, he received lessons from Leo Ketelaars. He made his debut with the Dutch Opera Society in 1979/80 in Un Ballo in Maschera. Before that, he'd already performed in Lucia di Lammermoor, Carmen and Madame Butterfly. He performed all over the world including Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, Mexico, the United States, Canada and Israel. With the Welsh National Opera he appeared in Ernani and Un Ballo in Maschera. He also studied with professor Eduardo Muller of the Scala in Milano. Meanwhile, he performed with Cristina Deutekom, Joan Sutherland, Martina Arroya, Sin Suk Lee, juan Pons and Sherril Milnes.