# Klaas

Klaas is a Dutch male given and surname. It is the Dutch short form of Nicholas, a Greek name ultimately meaning victory of the people. A traditionally common name in the Netherlands, its popularity declined some 20-fold since 1950. Archaic spellings include Claas and Claes. Among its female derivatives are Klaasje, Clasien, Clasina, Clasine, Clazien, Klasien, Klasina and Klaziena. Klaas also exists as a patronymic surname, though the forms Klaasen, Klaassen, Claassen, Claessen, and Claessens are more common.

## Notable persons whose given name is Klaas

* Klaas (fl. 1780), Khoikhoi guide to the explorer François Le Vaillant, who named Klaas's cuckoo after him
* Klaas Afrikaner (fl. 1760–1800), Nama captain of the Orlam Afrikaners
* Klaas Annink (1710–1775), Dutch serial killer
* Klaas Bakker (1926–2016), Dutch footballer
* Klaas Balk (born 1948), Dutch cyclist
* Klaas van Berkel (born 1953), Dutch historian of science
* Klaas de Boer (born 1942), Dutch-born American soccer player
* Klaas Bolt (1927–1990), Dutch organist and improviser
* Klaas Bom (born 1937), Dutch engineer
* Klaas Breeuwer (1901–1961), Dutch footballer
* Klaas van den Broek (born 1955), Dutch ice hockey player
* Klaas Bruinsma (1931–2018), Dutch translator to West Frisian
* Klaas Bruinsma (1953–1991), Dutch drug baron
* Klaas Buchly (1910–1965), Dutch cyclist
* Klaas Carel Faber (1922–2012), Dutch WWII war criminal
* Klaas Dijkhoff (born 1981), Dutch politician and legal scholar
* Klaas Gerling (born 1981), German DJ known as "Klaas"
* Klaas de Groot (born 1940), Dutch bioengineer
* Klaas Gubbels (born 1934), Dutch painter and sculptor
* Klaas Hendrikse (1947–2018), Dutch atheist pastor
* Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (born 1983), German television host
* Klaas van der Horst (1731–1825), Dutch Mennonite teacher and minister
* Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (born 1983), Dutch footballer
* Klaas Knot (born 1967), Dutch economist and central banker
* Klaas Kruik (1678–1754), Dutch cartographer and meteorologist better known as Cruquius
* Klaas Lodewyck (born 1988), Belgian cyclist
* Klaas van der Meulen (1642–1693), Dutch glass painter
* Klaas Jan Mulder [de; nl] (1930–2008), Dutch organist, pianist, and conductor
* Klaas van Nek [ca; de; nl] (1899–1986), Dutch racing cyclist
* Klaas-Jan van Noortwijk (born 1970), Dutch cricketer
* Klaas Nuninga (born 1940), Dutch footballer
* Klaas Ooms (1917–1970), Dutch footballer
* Klaas Jan Pen (1874–1932), Dutch sports shooter
* Klaas Plantinga (1846–1922), Dutch distiller
* Klaas Reimer (1770–1837), Prussian mennonite
* Klaas Runia (1926–2006), Dutch theologian and journalist
* Klaas Rusticus (born 1942), Dutch author and television and film director
* Klaas Schilder (1890–1952), Dutch theologian and professor
* Klaas Smit (1930–2008), Dutch footballer
* Klaas Sybrandi (1807–1872), Dutch Mennonite minister
* Klaas Sys (born 1986), Belgian cyclists
* Klaas Twisk (1930–1999), Dutch racing driver
* Klaas Vantornout (born 1982), Belgian cyclist
* Klaas Veenhof (1935–2023), Dutch Assyriologist
* Klaas Veering (born 1981), Dutch field hockey goalkeeper
* Klaas Vermeulen (born 1988), Dutch field hockey player
* Klaas de Vries (disambiguation), multiple people
* Klaas de Waard, alias of Aart Alblas (1918–1944), Dutch navy officer and resistance member
* Klaas Wiersma [de; nl] (1917–1993), Dutch legal scholar and politician
* Klaas Woldendorp (1871–1936), Dutch sports shooter
* Klaas Worp (born 1943), Dutch papyrologist
* Klaas-Erik Zwering (born 1981), Dutch swimmer and an Olympic medalist

### Claas

* Claas Epp, Jr. (1838–1913), Russian Mennonite minister
* Claas Hugo Humbert (1830–1904), German scientist and writer

### Fiction

* Klaas Vaak is the traditional Dutch name for the Sandman

## Notable persons whose surname is Klaas

* C. J. Klaas (born 1983), American soccer defensive midfielder
* Kathrin Klaas (born 1984), German hammer thrower
* Masabata Klaas (born 1991), South African cricketer
* Polly Klaas (1981–1993), American murder victim
* Urmas Klaas (born 1971), is Estonian politician
* Werner Klaas (1914–1945), German footballer