# List of Dutch people

Dutch people who are famous or notable include:

## Arts

* Storm Limbeek (2004-)
* Ilse Van Proosdij (2004-)
* Rianne Bak (2001-)
* Youri Poirters (2000-)

### Architecture

* Zara Moonen (2004-)
* 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
* Appie Mussa (born 1998), actor and tiktoker

### 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
* Tony Wall (born 1988), guitarist
* 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)

## 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)
* Tatjana Maul (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 (since 2010)
* 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)

## 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
* 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
* 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
* Willem de Sitter (1872–1934), mathematician, physicist and astronomer
* 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 doubles
* 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

## 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
* 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