List of Dutch people

Dutch people who are famous or notable include:

Arts

Architecture

• Jaap Bakema (1914–1981)
• Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856–1934)
• Jo van den Broek (1898–1978)
• Jacob van Campen (1596–1657), Dutch Golden Age architect
• Pierre Cuypers (1827–1921)
• Willem Marinus Dudok (1884–1974)
• Aldo van Eyck (1918–1999)
• Lieven de Key (1560–1627), renaissance architect
• Hendrick de Keyser (1565–1621), sculptor and architect
• Rem Koolhaas (born 1944)
• Jacobus Oud (1890–1963)
• Satyendra Pakhale (born 1967)
• Pieter Post (1608–1669), Dutch Golden Age architect
• Gerrit Rietveld (1888–1964)

Film

• Willeke van Ammelrooy (born 1944), actress
• Antoinette Beumer (born 1962), film director
• Marjolein Beumer (born 1966), actress, screenwriter
• Jan de Bont (born 1943), cinematographer
• Erik-Jan de Boer (born 1967), animation director
• Rene Daalder (1944–2019), director
• Mike van Diem (born 1959), screenwriter and director
• Bracha van Doesburgh (born 1981), actress
• Philip Dorn (1901–1975), actor
• Paul Driessen (born 1940), animator, director
• Bobbi Eden (born 1980), porn actress
• Cyrus Frisch (born 1969), director
• Laura Gemser (born 1950), actress
• Rijk de Gooyer (1925–2011), actor
• Rutger Hauer (1944–2019), actor
• Johannes Heesters (1903–2011), actor
• Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) (born 1967), composer
• Carice van Houten (born 1976), actress
• Michiel Huisman (born 1981), actor
• Famke Janssen (born 1964), actress
• Martin Koolhoven (born 1969), screenwriter and director
• John Kraaijkamp, Sr. (1925–2011), actor
• Jeroen Krabbé (born 1944), actor
• Sylvia Kristel (1952–2012), actress
• Rik Launspach (born 1958), actor and writer
• Dick Maas (born 1951), screenwriter and director
• Anneliese van der Pol (born 1984), actress
• Renée Soutendijk (born 1957), actress
• Johanna ter Steege (born 1961), actress
• Monique van de Ven (born 1952), actress
• Paul Verhoeven (born 1938), director
• Wiebe van der Vliet (born 1970), film editor
• Yorick van Wageningen (born 1964), actor
• Alex van Warmerdam (born 1952), actor, screenwriter and director
• Zara Whites (born 1968), former pornographic film actress
• Michaël Dudok de Wit (born 1953), animator, director
• Emmanuel Ohene Boafo (born 1993), actor
• Michael Sanderson (born 1983), Filmmaker and director
• Mimi Mariani (1928–1971), actress

Music

• Thomas Acda (born 1967), singer, actor
• Sharon Den Adel (born 1974), singer of Within Temptation
• Jan Akkerman (born 1946), guitar player
• Amber (born 1969), singer
• Elly Ameling (born 1933), classical music singer
• Louis Andriessen (1939–2021), composer
• Dick Annegarn (born 1952), singer, musician
• Bart Berman (born 1938), pianist, composer
• Marco Borsato (born 1966), singer
• Willem Breuker (1944–2010), jazz musician
• Herman Brood (1946–2001), rock musician and artist
• Frans Brüggen (1934–2014), conductor, recorder player and baroque flautist
• Theo Bruins (1929–1993), pianist, composer
• Armin van Buuren (born 1976), trance DJ
• Ferry Corsten (born 1973), trance DJ
• Esmée Denters (born 1988), singer, made famous through YouTube
• Cristina Deutekom (1931–2014), singer, classical music
• Alphons Diepenbrock (1862–1921), composer
• Anita Doth (born 1971), singer
• Candy Dulfer (born 1969), saxophone player
• Margriet Ehlen (born 1943), composer
• Caro Emerald (born 1981), singer
• Tess Gaerthé (born 1991), actress and singer
• Martin Garrix (born 1996), House DJ
• Afrojack (born 1987), House DJ
• Jan van Gilse (1881–1944), composer
• Boudewijn de Groot (born 1944), singer, actor
• Jack Jersey (1941–1997), producer, composer, singer
• Guus Meeuwis (born 1972), composer, singer
• Stephen van Haestregt (born 1972), drummer of Within Temptation
• Bernard Haitink (1929–2021), conductor Concertgebouworkest
• Alex Van Halen (born 1953), drummer of Van Halen
• Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020), guitarist of Van Halen
• Hardwell (born 1988), house DJ
• Barry Hay (born 1948), singer of Golden Earring
• André Hazes (1951–2004), singer
• Oliver Heldens (born 1995), DJ
• Koen Heldens (born 1986) mixing engineer
• Ilse Huizinga (born 1966), jazz singer
• Dominique van Hulst (born 1981), singer, popularly known as Do
• Janine Jansen (born 1978), violinist
• Ruud Jolie (born 1976), guitarist of Within Temptation
• Gerard Joling (born 1960), singer
• Tom Holkenborg (born 1967), film composer, electronic musician, remixer, composer
• Isabelle van Keulen (born 1966), classical violinist and violist, educator
• Tim Kliphuis (born 1974), jazz violinist
• Peter Koelewijn (born 1940), founder of Dutch rock & roll
• Astrid Kruisselbrink (born 1972), composer
• Natalie La Rose (born 1988), singer, dancer and model
• Arjen Anthony Lucassen (born 1960), composer and musician
• Joris de Man (born 1972), composer
• Gwendolyn Masin (born 1977), violinist, author, pedagogue, founder of GAIA Chamber Music Festival
• Willem Mengelberg (1871–1951), conductor
• Rogier van Otterloo (1941–1988), composer
• Willem van Otterloo (1907–1978), composer
• Jetty Paerl (1921–2013), singer (De vogels van Holland)
• Willem Pijper (1894–1947), composer
• Abbie de Quant (born 1946), flautist
• André Rieu (born 1949), violinist, conductor, and composer
• Nicky Romero (born 1989), house DJ
• Julius Röntgen (1855–1932), composer
• Ramses Shaffy (1933–2009), singer
• Eva Simons (born 1984), singer-songwriter
• Simone Simons (born 1985), vocalist of Epica
• Peter Slaghuis (1960–1991), disc jockey
• Ray Slijngaard (born 1971), singer and disc jockey
• Jaap Spaanderman (1896–1985), pianist, cellist, conductor
• Martijn Spierenburg (born 1975), keyboardist of Within Temptation
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562–1621), composer and organist
• Anouk Teeuwe (born 1975), singer
• Herman van Veen (born 1945), singer, theater performer
• Jeroen van Veen (born 1969), classical pianist and composer
• Jeroen van Veen (born 1974), bassist of Within Temptation
• Roel van Velzen (born 1978), singer
• Matthijs Vermeulen (1888–1967), composer
• Matthijs Verschoor (born 1955), classical pianist
• Tijs Verwest (born 1969), DJ (better known as DJ Tiësto)
• Klaas de Vries (born 1944), composer
• Edo de Waart (born 1941), conductor
• Johan Wagenaar (1862–1941), composer
• Robert Westerholt (born 1975), guitarist of Within Temptation
• Jaap van Zweden (born 1960), violinist and conductor

• Joost Klein (born 1997), singer and rapper

Visual arts

• Pieter van Abeele (1622–1677), medallist
• Bernard Accama (1697–1756), painter
• Karel Appel (1921–2006), painter
• Hendrick Avercamp (1585–1634), painter
• Ludolf Backhuysen (1631–1708), painter
• John Baselmans (born 1954), painter and illustrator
• Helen Berman (born 1936), painter
• Charles Bolsius (1907–1983), painters and print maker
• Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516), painter
• Ambrosius Bosschaert (1573–1612), painter
• Jan de Bray (1627–1697), painter
• Dick Bruna (1927–2017), graphical artist
• Paul Citroen (1896–1983), painter
• Anton Corbijn (born 1955), photographer
• Aelbert Cuyp (1620–1691), painter
• Theo van Doesburg (1883–1931), painter
• Willem Drost (1630–1680), painter and print maker
• Ger van Elk (1941–2014), sculptor
• M. C. Escher (1898–1972), graphical artist
• Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), painter
• Jan van Goyen (1596–1656), painter
• Mieke Groot (born 1949), glass artist
• Frans Hals (1580–1666), painter
• Jacoba van Heemskerck (1876–1923), painter, stained glass designer and graphic artist
• Milou Hermus (1947–2021), painter
• Jan van Herwijnen (1889–1965), painter
• Pieter de Hooch (1629–1684), painter
• Helena Klakocar (born 1958), cartoonist
• Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), painter
• Andrea Kruis (born 1962), illustrator
• Jeanne de Loos-Haaxman (1881–1976), art historian
• Han van Meegeren (1889–1947), forger of paintings
• Jacobus Anthonie Meessen (1836–1885), photographer
• Piet Mondrian (1872–1944), painter
• Rien Poortvliet (1932–1995), painter and illustrator
• Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), painter
• Willem de Rooij (born 1969), contemporary artist
• Jacob van Ruisdael (c. 1628–1682), landscape painter
• Geertgen tot Sint Jans (active 1465–1495), painter
• Carolein Smit (born 1960), ceramic art sculptor
• Peter Spier (1927–2017), illustrator
• Jan Steen (1626–1679), painter
• Marten Toonder (1912–2007), comic creator
• Thierry Veltman (born 1939-2023), painter and sculptor
• Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), painter
• Gisèle d'Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht (1912–2013), painter
• Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (1882–1945), typographer and illustrator
• Jacob de Wit (1695–1754), painter

Writers

• A. C. Baantjer (1923–2010), writer of detective fiction
• Paul Biegel (1925–2006), writer of children's books
• Remco Campert (1929–2022), novelist and poet
• Jacob Cats (1577–1660), poet
• Isabelle de Charrière (1740–1805), novelist
• Louis Couperus (1863–1923), novelist and poet
• Willy Corsari (1897–1998), novelist, actress and composer
• Johan Fabricius (1899–1981), novelist, journalist and painter
• Geert Groote (1340–1384)
• Arnon Grünberg (born 1971)
• Hella Haasse (1918–2011), novelist
• Jan de Hartog (1914–2002), novelist and playwright
• Herman Heijermans (1864–1924)
• Willem Frederik Hermans (1921–1995), novelist and physical geographer
• Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (1581–1647)
• Constantijn Huygens (1596–1687)
• Gerrit Krol (1934–2013), novelist, poet
• Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882–1944)
• Geert Mak (born 1946), writer of history books
• Harry Mulisch (1927–2010), novelist
• Multatuli (1820–1887), novelist
• Nescio (1882–1961)
• Cees Nooteboom (born 1933), novelist
• Willem Oltmans (1925–2004), journalist
• Gerard Reve (1923–2006), novelist
• Tjalie Robinson (1911–1974)
• Annie M.G. Schmidt (1911–1995), children's writer
• Philip Slier (1923–1943)
• Joost van den Vondel (1587–1679), poet and playwright
• Anne de Vries (1904–1964), novelist
• Janwillem van de Wetering (1931–2008), novelist
• Willy Wielek-Berg (1919–2004) film critic, writer, columnist
• Jan Wolkers (1925–2007)
• Yael van der Wouden (born 1987), novelist

Exploration

• Willem Barentsz (c. 1550–1597), several expeditions to Arctic waters; discovered Spitsbergen
• Abraham Blauvelt (1601–1663), Central America
• Adriaen Block (1567–1627), New Netherland
• Hendrik Brouwer (1580–1643), discovered the Roaring Forties
• Olivier Brunel (c. 1540–1585), tried to find a passage around Siberia to China
• Jan Carstenszoon (1600–1700), New Guinea coast, navigated the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1623
• Robert Jacob Gordon (1743–1795), extensively traveled South Africa in the service of the Dutch East India Company
• Dirk Hartog (1580–1621), VOC captain, charted mid-western coast of Australia
• Jacob van Heemskerk (1567–1607), captain of one of Barent's ships on his last fatal expedition
• Cornelis de Houtman (1565–1599), brother to Frederick, established Dutch trading route to the Spice Islands
• Frederick de Houtman (1571–1627), brother to Cornelis, charted several constellations in the southern skies, explored coast of Western Australia
• Willem Janszoon (c. 1570–1630), first European expedition to make landfall on the Australian continent
• Jacob Le Maire (c. 1585–1616), Cape Horn, 1616 circumnavigation
• Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, New Jersey (1614–1620)
• Olivier van Noort (1558–1627), 1598 circumnavigation
• Jacob Quaeckernaeck (1500–1606), reached Japan via Street of Magellan and Moluccas
• Matthijs Quast (died 1641), Japan, Bonin Islands, and legendary islands East of Japan
• Jan Rijp (c. 1570–c. 1613), saved remainder of Willem Barentsz's crew in 1597
• Jakob Roggeveen (1659–1729), First European to reach Easter Island Easter 1722
• Willem Schouten (1567–1625), Cape Horn, 1616 circumnavigation
• Simon van der Stel (1639–1702), explored South Africa North and East of Cape Town
• Abel Tasman (1603–1659), extensive voyages around Australia and southwest Pacific, discovered a.o. Tasmania, New Zealand and Tonga
• François Thijssen (died 1638?), charted 1,000 miles of the Australian South Coast in 1627
• Alexine Tinne (1839–1869), Sahara desert crossing
• Willem de Vlamingh (1640–c. 1698), Western Australia
• Sebald de Weert (1567–1603), discovered Falkland Islands

Fashion models

• Azra Akın (born 1981)
• Wilhelmina Cooper (1940–1980)
• Kim Feenstra (born 1986)
• Bette Franke (born 1989)
• Daphne Groeneveld (born 1994)
• Daniella van Graas (born 1975)
• (born 1988)
• Rianne ten Haken (born 1986)
• Marpessa Hennink (born 1964)
• Querelle Jansen (born 1985)
• Kim Kötter (born 1982)
• Doutzen Kroes (born 1985)
• Karen Mulder (born 1970)
• Marcus Schenkenberg (born 1968)
• Iekeliene Stange (born 1984)
• Lara Stone (born 1983)
• Romee Strijd (born 1995)
• Yfke Sturm (born 1981)
• Mark Vanderloo (born 1968)

Fictional characters

• Hans Brinker
• Abraham Van Helsing
• Peter Van Houten

Historians

• Henrica van Erp (c. 1480–1548)
• Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (1581–1647)
• Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)
• Loe de Jong (1914–2005)
• Jan Gerard Kerkherdere (1677–1738)
• Jan Romein (1893–1962)
• Petrus Scriverius (1576–1660)
• Boudewijn Sirks (born 1947)

Journalists

• Ton Elias
• Henk Hofland
• Arendo Joustra
• Almar Latour
• Geert Mak
• Mart Smeets
• Eva Vlaardingerbroek

Military

• Gaius Julius Civilis, Batavian military commander, leader of the Batavian rebellion
• Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587–1629), governor general of the Dutch East Indies
• Karel Doorman (1889–1942), naval officer
• Piet Pieterszoon Hein (1577–1629), naval officer
• Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1584–1647), general and stadtholder
• J. B. van Heutsz (1851–1924), governor general of the Dutch East Indies
• Hendrick Lucifer (1583–1627), naval officer turned pirate
• Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567–1625), general and stadtholder
• Michiel de Ruyter (1607–1676), naval officer
• Cornelis Tromp (1629–1691), naval officer
• Maarten Tromp (1598–1653), naval officer
• Witte Corneliszoon de With (1599–1658), naval officer
• Cornelis de Witt (1623–1672), naval officer and statesman

Philosophy

• Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609), philosopher and theologian
• Isaac Beeckman (1588–1637)
• Evert Willem Beth (1908–1964)
• Cornelius van Bynkershoek (1673–1743), jurist and legal theorist
• Pieter de la Court (1618–1685), economist and political theorist
• Herman Dooyeweerd (1894–1977), philosopher, Vrije Universiteit
• Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536), writer, polemicist, humanist, Protestant Reformation
• Hugo Grotius (1583–1645), also lawyer, playwright, and poet
• François Hemsterhuis (1721–1790)
• Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733), philosopher, political economist and satirist
• Johannes Jacobus Poortman (1896–1970)
• Johan van den Sande, (1568-1638) lawyer and historian
• Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677), philosopher
• Cornelis Petrus Tiele (1830–1902), theologian and historian of religion

Politics

Before 20th century

• Pier Gerlofs Donia (1480–1520), warrior and freedom fighter
• William the Silent (1533–1584), stadtholder
• Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1547–1619), statesman
• Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567–1625), general and stadtholder
• Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1584–1647), general and stadtholder
• Andries Bicker (1586–1652), regent of Amsterdam, statesman
• Cornelis de Graeff (1599–1664), regent of Amsterdam, statesman
• Andries de Graeff (1611–1678), regent of Amsterdam, statesman
• Jan van Riebeeck (1619–1677), administrator and colonizer of Cape Town
• Cornelis de Witt (1623–1672), statesman
• Johan de Witt (1625–1672), statesman
• William III of Orange (1650–1702), stadtholder and king of England
• Johan Rudolf Thorbecke (1798–1872), prime minister

20th and 21st centuries

• Dries van Agt (1931–2024), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1977–1982)
• Jan Peter Balkenende (born 1956), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2002–2010)
• Louis Beel (1902–1977), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1946–1948, 1958–1959)
• Barend Biesheuvel (1920–2001), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1971–1973)
• Els Borst (1932–2014), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport
• Wouter Bos (born 1963), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance
• Ben Bot (born 1937), Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Hans van den Broek (born 1936), Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Commissioner (1993–1999)
• Jo Cals (1914–1971), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1965–1966)
• Hendrikus Colijn (1869–1944), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1925–1926, 1933–1939)
• Pieter Cort van der Linden (1846–1935), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1913–1918)
• Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis (1846–1919), first prominent Socialist
• Willem Drees (1886–1988), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1948–1958)
• Wim Duisenberg (1935–2005), Minister of Finance, President of the European Central Bank (1998–2003)
• Pim Fortuyn (1948–2002), politician, candidate for Prime Minister, assassinated during the 2002 election
• Cornelis van Geelkerken (1901–1979), National-Socialist, co-founder of the NSB
• Dirk Jan de Geer (1870–1960), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1926–1929, 1939–1940)
• Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (born 1948), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of NATO (2004–2009)
• Hans Janmaat (1934–2002), right-wing nationalist
• Piet de Jong (1915–2016), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1967–1971)
• Wim Kok (1938–2018), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1994–2002)
• Neelie Kroes (born 1941), Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, European Commissioner for Competition (2004–2014)
• Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1901–1905)
• Ruud Lubbers (1939–2018), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1982–1994), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2001–2005)
• Joseph Luns (1911–2002), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of NATO (1971–1984)
• Victor Marijnen (1917–1975), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1963–1965)
• Anton Mussert (1894–1946), National-Socialist, founder of the NSB
• Pieter Oud (1886–1966), Founder of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
• Alexander Pechtold (born 1965), Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations
• Jan Pronk (born 1940), Minister for Development Cooperation, Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Head of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (2004–2006)
• Jan de Quay (1901–1985), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1959–1963)
• Johan Remkes (born 1951), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior
• Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (1873–1936), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1918–1925, 1929–1933)
• Piet de Ruiter (1939–2014), member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands between 1971 and 1976
• Mark Rutte (born 1967), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2010–2024), Secretary General of NATO (since 2024)
• Pieter Jelles Troelstra (1860–1930), political activist for universal suffrage
• Joop den Uyl (1919–1987), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1973–1977)
• Rita Verdonk (born 1955), Minister for Integration & Immigration
• Hans Wiegel (born 1941), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Queen's Commissioner of Friesland
• Geert Wilders (born 1963), prominent critic of Islam
• Gerrit Zalm (born 1952), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance
• Jelle Zijlstra (1918–2001), Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1966–1967)
• Alexander Van der Bellen (born 1944), President of Austria (since 2017)

Royal Family

• William I of the Netherlands (1772–1843), King
• William II of the Netherlands (1792–1849), King
• William III of the Netherlands (1817–1890), King
• Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1858–1934), Queen consort, Queen regent (1890–1898)
• Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880–1962), Queen
• Juliana of the Netherlands (1909–2004), Queen
• Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1911–2004), Prince-consort
• Beatrix of the Netherlands (born 1938), Queen
• Prince Claus (1926–2002), Prince-consort
• Princess Irene of the Netherlands (born 1939)
• Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (born 1943)
• Princess Christina of the Netherlands (1947–2019)
• Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (born 1967), King
• Máxima of the Netherlands (born 1971), Queen consort
• Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau (1968–2013)
• Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands (born 1969)
• Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (born 2003)
• Princess Alexia of the Netherlands (born 2005)
• Princess Ariane of the Netherlands (born 2007)

Science and technology

Before 20th century

• Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738), physician
• C.H.D. Buys Ballot (1817–1890), chemist and meteorologist
• Ludolph van Ceulen (1540–1610), mathematician
• Carolus Clusius (1526–1609), doctor and botanist
• Menno van Coehoorn (1641–1704), military engineer
• Laurens Janszoon Coster (1370–1440), printer
• Cornelius Drebbel (1572–1633), inventor and engineer
• Eise Eisinga (1744–1828), astronomer who built a scale of the Solar System in his house
• David Fabricius (1564–1617), astronomer
• Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), German-Polish physicist and engineer, lived most of his life in the Dutch Republic
• Regnier de Graaf (1641–1673), physician and anatomist, who made key discoveries in reproductive biology
• Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff (1852–1911), chemist
• Coenraad Johannes van Houten (1801–1887), chemist, inventor, known for the Dutch process chocolate
• Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695), mathematician and physicist
• Constantijn Huygens, Jr. (1628–1697; brother of Christiaan), scientific instrument maker, technological chronicler
• Jan Ingenhousz (1730–1799), physiologist, botanist and physicist.
• Zacharias Janssen (1580–88 – pre-1632 to 1638), scientific instrument maker from Middelburg, associated with the invention of the first optical telescope
• Petrus Jacobus Kipp (1808–1864), chemist, inventor of the Kipp apparatus
• Jan Leeghwater (1575–1650), hydraulic engineer and mill builder
• Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), scientist
• Hans Lippershey (1570–1619), inventor and scientific instrument maker, associated with the invention of the first telescope
• Pieter van Musschenbroek (1692–1761), Dutch scientist, scientific instrument maker and inventor of Leyden jar
• Frederik Ruysch (1638–1731), botanist and anatomist
• Marie du Saar (1860–1955), ophthalmologist
• Frans van Schooten (1615–1660), mathematician
• Willebrord Snell (1580–1626), astronomer and mathematician
• Thomas Joannes Stieltjes (1856–1894), mathematician
• Simon Stevin (1548–1620), mathematician and engineer
• Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680), scientist
• Franciscus Sylvius (1614–1672), physician and anatomist
• Nicolaes Tulp (1593–1674), physician, surgeon and mayor of Amsterdam
• Gustav de Vries (1866–1934), mathematician
• Hugo de Vries (1848–1937), geneticist
• Johannes Diderik van der Waals (1837–1923), physicist
• Nicolaes Witsen (1641–1717), statesman, shipbuilder, geographer and cartographer
• Hendrik Zwaardemaker (1857–1930), scientist

20th century

• Wiebe Bijker (born 1951), social scientist
• Nicolaas Bloembergen (1920–2017), physicist
• Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer (1881–1966), mathematician
• Nicolaas Govert de Bruijn (1918–2012), mathematician
• Hendrik Casimir (1909–2000), physicist
• Paul J. Crutzen (1933–2021), atmospheric chemist
• David van Dantzig (1900–1959), mathematician
• Paul Ehrenfest (1880–1933), physicist
• Chaim Elata (born 1929), Israeli professor of mechanical engineering, President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Chairman of the Israel Public Utility Authority for Electricity
• George Uhlenbeck (1900–1988), theoretical physicist
• Samuel Goudsmit (1902–1978), Dutch-American physicist
• Dirk Brouwer (1902–1966), astronomer
• Cornelis Johannes van Houten (1920–2002), astronomer
• Tom Gehrels (1925–2011), astronomer
• Willem Johan Kolff (1911–2009), physician and inventor
• Peter Debye (1884–1966), chemist
• Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960), physicist
• Edsger Dijkstra (1930–2002), computer scientist
• David Adriaan van Dorp (1915–1995), chemist
• Eugène Dubois (1858–1944), paleontologist and anatomist
• Christiaan Eijkman (1858–1930), physician and pathologist
• Willem Einthoven (1860–1927), physician
• Anthony Fokker (1890–1939), aviation engineer
• Valerie Frissen (born 1960), social scientist
• Richard D. Gill (born 1951), mathematician
• Jaap Haartsen (born 1963), inventor of Bluetooth
• Arend Heyting (1898–1980), mathematician
• Gerardus 't Hooft (born 1946), physicist
• Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1853–1926), physicist
• Jacobus Kapteyn (1851–1922), astronomer
• Willem Hendrik Keesom (1878–1956), physicist
• Hendrik Anthony Kramers (1894–1952), physicist
• Pieter Kok (born 1972), physicist
• Tjalling Koopmans (1910–1985), economist
• Gerard Kuiper (1905–1973), astronomer
• Hendrik Lorentz (1853–1928), physicist
• Arend Lijphart (born 1936), political scientist
• Simon van der Meer (1925–2011), physicist
• Bram Moolenaar (born 1961), computer programmer, author of text-editor Vim
• Wubbo Ockels (1946–2014), astronaut
• Jan Oort (1900–1992), astronomer
• Lou Ottens (1926-2021), inventor of the compact cassette
• Anton Pannekoek (1873–1960), astronomer
• Guido van Rossum (born 1956), computer programmer, inventor of the Python programming language
• Carel van Schaik (born 1953), primatologist
• Maarten Schmidt (1929–2022), astronomer
• Kees Schouhamer Immink (born 1946), engineer, development of CD, DVD and Blu-ray
• Willem de Sitter (1872–1934), mathematician, physicist and astronomer
• Andrew S. Tanenbaum (born 1944), Computer scientist, developer of Minix which inspired Linus Torvalds to write Linux
• Hendrik Tennekes (1936–2021), aerodynamics professor
• Jan Tinbergen (1903–1994), economist
• Nico Tinbergen (1907–1988), ecologist
• Martinus J. G. Veltman (1931–2021), physicist
• Frans de Waal (1948–2024), primatologist
• Bartel Leendert van der Waerden (1903–1996), mathematician
• Pieter Zeeman (1865–1943), physicist
• Frits Zernike (1888–1966), physicist
• Andre Geim (born 1958), Russian-born British-Dutch physicist
• Konstantin Novoselov (born 1974), Russian-born British physicist, undertook his PhD studies at the University of Nijmegen before moving to the University of Manchester

Sports

• Estella Agsteribbe (1909–1943), Olympic champion gymnast (team combined exercises)
• Christijan Albers (born 1979), Formula 1 driver
• Ryan Babel (born 1986), football player
• Raymond van Barneveld (born 1967), darts player
• Marco van Basten (born 1964), manager and retired football player
• Stan van Belkum (born 1961), water polo player
• Xander Bogaerts (born 1992), MLB player for the Boston Red Sox
• Carina Benninga (born 1962), field hockey player, Olympic champion, bronze
• Dennis Bergkamp (born 1969), manager and retired football player
• Juliette Bergmann (born 1958), IFBB pro bodybuilder
• Jorrit Bergsma (born 1985), speed skater
• Det de Beus (1958–2013), field hockey goalkeeper
• Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918–2004), athlete
• Jan Blokhuijsen (born 1989), speed skater
• Rens Blom (born 1977), 2005 world champion pole vaulter
• Femke Bol (born 2000), athlete
• Frank de Boer (born 1970), retired football player
• Ronald de Boer (born 1970), retired football player
• Floris Jan Bovelander (born 1966), field hockey player
• Mart Bras (born 1950), water polo player
• Jacques Brinkman (born 1966), field hockey player
• Giovanni van Bronckhorst (born 1975), football player
• Inge de Bruijn (born 1974), swimmer
• Roel Buikema (born 1976), football player
• Ton Buunk (born 1952), water polo player
• Johan Cruijff (1947–2016), retired football player and former manager
• Edgar Davids (born 1973), football player
• Marc Delissen (born 1965), field hockey player
• Cees Jan Diepeveen (born 1956), field hockey player
• Ellen van Dijk (born 1987), road and track cyclist, four-time world champion
• Sjoukje Dijkstra (1942–2024), figure skater
• Robert Doornbos (born 1981), Formula One driver
• Eva Duldig (born 1938), Austrian-born Australian and Dutch tennis player, author
• Francisco Elson (born 1976), NBA player for Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs
• Jacco Eltingh (born 1970), tennis player
• Max Euwe (1901–1981), chess player
• Didi Gregorius (born 1990), MLB player for New York Yankees
• Louis van Gaal (born 1951), football player and manager
• Dan Gadzuric (born 1978), NBA player for Milwaukee Bucks
• Anton Geesink (1934–2010), judoka
• Yuri van Gelder (born 1983), gymnast
• Yvonne van Gennip (born 1964), speed skater
• Stefan Groothuis (born 1981), speed skater
• Anky van Grunsven (born 1968), dressage
• Ruud Gullit (born 1962), football player and coach
• Paul Haarhuis (born 1966), tennis player
• Eddy Hamel (1902–1943), Jewish-American soccer player for Dutch club AFC Ajax who was killed by the Nazis in Auschwitz concentration camp
• Willem van Hanegem (born 1944), football player and coach
• Wil Hartog (born 1948), Grand Prix motorcycle racer
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (born 1972), football player
• John Heitinga (born 1983), football player
• Guus Hiddink (born 1946), manager and retired football player
• Ellen Hoog (born 1986), field hockey player
• Pieter van den Hoogenband (born 1978), swimmer
• Ernesto Hoost (born 1965), kickboxer
• Jan Janssen (born 1940), cyclist
• Bob de Jong (born 1976), speed skater
• Niek Kimmann (born 1996), champion BMX rider
• Jelle Klaasen (born 1984), darts player
• Bep van Klaveren (1907–1992), boxer
• Patrick Kluivert (born 1976), football player
• Sjinkie Knegt (born 1989), short-track speed skater
• Ronald Koeman (born 1963), football player and manager
• Ada Kok (born 1947), swimmer
• Richard Krajicek (born 1971), tennis player
• Sven Kramer (born 1986), speed skater
• Ties Kruize (born 1952), field hockey player
• Dirk Kuyt (born 1980), football player
• Nico Landeweerd (born 1954), water polo player
• Ellen van Langen (born 1966), athlete
• Elka de Levie (1905–1979), Olympic champion gymnast (team combined exercises)
• Arie Luyendyk (born 1953), race car driver
• Joost Luiten (born 1986), golfer
• Rie Mastenbroek (1919–2003), swimmer
• Loek van Mil (1984–2019), baseball player
• Lion van Minden (1880–1944), Olympic fencer, who was killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp
• Leontien van Moorsel (born 1970), cyclist
• Bob Mulder (born 1974), football player
• Boyito Mulder (born 1991), figure skater
• Dustley Mulder (born 1985), football player
• Eefke Mulder (born 1977), field hockey player
• Erwin Mulder (born 1989), football player
• Jan Mulder (born 1945), football player
• Lau Mulder (1927–2006), field hockey player
• Michel Mulder (born 1986), speed skater
• Ronald Mulder (born 1986), speed skater
• Teun Mulder (born 1981), cyclist
• Youri Mulder (born 1969), football player
• Bennie Muller (1938–2024), football player
• Ruud van Nistelrooy (born 1976), football player
• Teun de Nooijer (born 1976), field hockey player
• Helena Nordheim (1903–1943), Olympic champion gymnast (team combined exercises)
• Simon Okker (1881–1944), Olympic fencer killed in Auschwitz
• Tom Okker (born 1944), tennis player, won 1973 French Open Men's Doubles (w/John Newcombe), 1976 US Open Men's Doubles (w/Marty Riessen), highest world ranking # 3 in singles, and # 1 in <nowiki>doubles</nowiki>
• Tinus Osendarp (1916–2002), athlete
• Alistair Overeem (born 1980), MMA fighter and former kickboxer
• Mathieu van der Poel (born 1995), professional cyclist
• Robin van Persie (born 1983), football player
• Annie Polak (1906–1943), Olympic champion gymnast (team combined exercises)
• Daniël de Ridder (born 1984), football player, forward winger/attacking midfielder (Wigan Athletic and U21 national team)
• Frank Rijkaard (born 1962), football player and manager
• Lucia Rijker (born 1967), boxer and kickboxer
• Dorian van Rijsselberghe (born 1988), windsurfer
• Rintje Ritsma (born 1970), speed skater
• Arjen Robben (born 1984), football player
• Johnny Roeg (1910–2003), football player, striker for Ajax
• Gianni Romme (born 1973), speed skater
• Wim Ruska (1940–2015), judoka
• Bas Rutten (born 1965), mixed martial artist
• Edwin van der Sar (born 1970), football player
• Ard Schenk (born 1944), speed skater
• Dafne Schippers (born 1992), athlete
• Clarence Seedorf (born 1976), football player
• Aryeh "Arie" Selinger (born 1937), volleyball player & coach
• Avital Selinger (born 1959), Olympic silver medallist
• Gerald Sibon (born 1974), football player
• Judijke Simons (1904–1943), Olympic champion gymnast (team combined exercises)
• Emil Sitoci (born 1985), pro wrestler
• Jan Smeekens (born 1985), speed skater
• Rutger Smith (born 1981), athlete
• Rik Smits (born 1966), NBA player
• Wesley Sneijder (born 1984), football player
• Petra van Staveren (born 1966), swimmer
• Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player
• Sjaak Swart (born 1938), footballer
• Bernard D. H. Tellegen (1900–1990), electrical engineer, inventor, known for Tellegen's theorem in circuit theory
• Carole Thate (born 1971), field hockey player
• Jan Timman (born 1951), chess player
• Regilio Tuur (born 1967), boxer
• Jochem Uytdehaage (born 1976), speed skater
• Wilma van den Berg (born 1947), sprinter, competed at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics (which she left in the middle, in sympathy with the Israelis after the Munich Massacre)
• Rick VandenHurk (born 1985), baseball player
• Arnold Vanderlyde (born 1963), boxer
• Jim Vandermeer (born 1980), Dutch-Canadian ice hockey player
• Bart Veldkamp (born 1967), speed skater
• Kees Verkerk (born 1942), speed skater
• Martin Verkerk (born 1978), tennis player
• Jos Verstappen (born 1972), F1 Grand Prix racing driver
• Max Verstappen (born 1997), F1 Grand Prix racing driver
• Koen Verweij (born 1990), speed skater
• Bert van Vlaanderen (born 1964), long-distance runner
• Gregory van der Wiel (born 1988), football player
• Harm Wiersma (born 1953), checkers player
• Hans Wouda (born 1941), water polo player
• Marcel Wouda (born 1972), swimmer
• Joop Zoetemelk (born 1946), cyclist
• Epke Zonderland (born 1986), gymnast
• Anish Giri (born 1994), chess player
• Virgil van Dijk (born 1991), football player
• Arne Slot (born 1987), football manager
• Reinier de Ridder (born 1990), ONE Championship and UFC fighter

Other

• Willem Doorn (1836–1908), for 33 years vicar of Nobel Street Church in The Hague
• Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor (1165–1197), King of Germany (1190–1197), Holy Roman Emperor (1191–1197), King of Sicily (1194–1197)
• Pope Adrian VI (1522–1523), pope from 1522 to 1523
• Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (1890–2005), oldest person in the world from 29 May 2004 to 30 August 2005
• Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983), Christian activist during the Holocaust
• Aaron Abbas (18th century), Jewish editor and printer
• Geert Adriaans Boomgaard, (1788–1899) officially first ever validated supercentenarian
• Evert Dudok (born 1959), president of EADS Astrium Space Transportation
• Gretta Duisenberg (born 1942), pro-Palestinian activist and the wife of Wim Duisenberg
• Esmée van Eeghen (1918–1944), Dutch resistance member
• Jacob Eelkens, first commander of the first Dutch fort in America (Fort Nassau)
• Jetske van den Elsen (born 1972), television presenter
• Caro van Eyck (1915-1979), stage and television actress
• Ferry Piekart (born 1974), writer on children's games
• Anne Frank (1929–1945), diarist in World War II Amsterdam
• Harry Gideonse (1901–1985), American President of Brooklyn College, and Chancellor of the New School for Social Research
• Alfred Henry (Freddy) Heineken (1923–2002), commercial mastermind of the Heineken Imperium; grandson of the founder of Heineken
• Mata Hari (1876–1917), spy
• Frans van der Hoff (born 1939), co-founder of Max Havelaar, the first Fairtrade certification initiative
• Aletta Jacobs (1854–1929), first Dutch female to complete a university degree and the first female physician
• Nicolaas Godfried van Kampen (1776-1839) Dutch Mennonite deacon
• Frederik Lauesen (born 1972), television presenter
• Marinus van der Lubbe (1909–1934), see: Reichstag fire
• George Maduro (1916–1945), Dutch Resistance member; the miniature city of Madurodam is named after him, as well as the Maduroplein area in Scheveningen, in The Hague
• Adrienne van Melle-Hermans (1931–2007), peace activist
• Maria van Pallaes (1587–1664), philanthropist in Utrecht
• Anton Philips (1874–1951), co-founder of the Royal Philips Electronics
• Gerard Philips (1858–1942), co-founder of the Royal Philips Electronics
• Roel Pieper (born 1956), businessman and professor
• Jan Sloot (1945–1999), inventor
• Joran van der Sloot (born 1987), convicted murderer
• Peter Stuyvesant (1592–1672), governor of the New Netherland
• Jason Walters (born 1985), sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges related to Islamic terrorism

See also

• (The Greatest Dutchman)
• List of Dutch Americans
• List of Dutch Britons
• List of Dutch Indos
• List of Dutch Israelis
• List of Dutch Jews
• List of Dutch people of Lebanese descent
• List of Dutch people of Moroccan descent
• List of Dutch people of Turkish descent
• List of Dutch sportspeople
• List of Dutch supercentenarians
• List of Dutch vegetarians
• List of Frisians
• List of people from Amsterdam
• List of people from the Dutch Golden Age

References