The Netherlands may be a small country, but its influence reaches far beyond its borders. Across the centuries, Dutch innovators, thinkers, artists, athletes and leaders have helped shape global culture, science and politics. From the masterpieces of the Golden Age to modern sporting triumphs, these individuals continue to inspire people around the world. Below is a look at some of the most significant Dutch figures whose achievements still resonate today.
| đFamous person | đWhen they live/d | đWhat they're famous for |
|---|---|---|
| Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus | 1466 - 1536 | Theologian, Catholic priest, humanist |
| Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn | 1606 - 1669 | Painting |
| Johan de Witt | 1625 - 1672 | Led the Dutch government for 22 years. |
| Antonie van Leeuwenhoek | 1632 - 1723 | Being the Father of microbiology |
| Abraham Kuyper | 1837 - 1920 | Influenced Dutch politics Favoured social equality |
| Vincent van Gogh | 1853 - 1890 | Painting (and alleged madness) |
| Corrie ten Boom | 1892 - 1983 | Watchmaker, writer, resistance fighter |
| Anne Frank | 1929 - 1945 | Giving perspective into life during the Nazi era. |
| Ruud Lubbers | 1939 - 2018 | The longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history. |
| Johan Cruyff | 1947 - 2016 | Revolutionised football Implemented the 'total football' strategy. |
| Eddie Van Halen | 1955 - 2020 | Being a guitar virtuoso |
| Ruud Gullit | 1962 - present | One of the Netherlands' top football players. |
| Sarina Wiegman | 1969 - present | Football star and manager |
| Marianne Vos | 1987 - present | Olympic cyclist |
| Max Verstappen | 1997 - present | Formula 1 driver |
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (1466-1536)
Anyone who knows about higher education in Europe knows the name Erasmus.
They might not know much about the person behind the name, though.
Among famous Dutch people, he became the lodestone for philosophical thinking and theological reasoning.
He was born in Rotterdam just as the European religious reformations were getting underway. His upbringing and education placed him well to make valuable contributions to the discussions of his day.
His writings made him one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern Renaissance.
His ideas helped shape Western culture, particularly his humanist perspectives.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669)
Rembrandt, one of the towering figures of the Dutch Golden Age, redefined portraiture and storytelling through paint. Born in 1606, he became renowned for his masterful use of light and shadow, which gave his subjects remarkable depth and emotion.
Imagine how things were in Rembrandt's time! Back then, there was no such thing as instant fame or networked devices. Yet, this Dutch person travelled on reputation alone, especially in his later years.
Rembrandt's career began just as the Dutch Golden Age was getting underway. Unlike other painters, he didn't stick to just one style or subject. His work comprises landscapes, historical scenes, and portraits - including self-portraits like this one.
He was wildly prolific in his art creation. Across his roughly 40-year career, he painted hundreds of tableaux.
Johan de Witt (1625-1672)
Johan de Witt was born on September 24, 1625, in Dordrecht, in what was the Dutch Republic at the time. He was an important politician in the 17th century.
He held the high post of Grand Pensionary from 1653 to 1672. This role amounted to being the Dutch Republic's political leader, one or two rungs down from nobility.
Throughout his political career, he worked to boost economic activity through trade and shipping. The flourishing sea trade during de Witt's tenure made the United Provinces a leading European power.
These efforts, along with colonisation, brought about the Dutch Golden Age.
Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelius were publicly executed in The Hague, in 1672. Many historians believe that William of Orange encouraged rioters to execute the de Witt brothers.
Today, people still view Johan de Witt as a symbol of regulated government power, internationalism and tolerance for diversity. These are all values the Dutch people hold high.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
This famous Dutch person lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of explosive art production and scientific discovery.
Unlike many of those genius producers, Antonie was mostly self-taught. He started his career as a cloth wholesaler, ultimately opened his own shop. How did he go from selling bolts of cloth to investigating science mysteries?
Besides cloth sales, Antoine was fascinated with making lenses (for telescopes and microscopes). As he pursued his interest, he tested his lens' quality by examining the microscopic world. What he saw took his breath away.
His first thrill was examining his cloths' thread quality and pattern. His subsequent curiosity revolutionised biological study.
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920)
Kuyper was the Dutch Prime Minister from 1901 to 1905. He created his own political party, the Anti-Revolutionary Party, which he dominated from 1879 to his death, in 1920.
He is noteworthy for his promotion of pillarisation: the segregation of societies or social groups divided into different 'pillars'. Such would allow Protestants, Catholics and other groups to have their own schools, universities and organisations.
Despite Kuyper's attempts to establish pillarization and the antithesis not fully succeeding, his tenure as Prime Minister saw him advocate for better working conditions across the board. However, it was primarily the fishing and harbour construction sectors that reaped the benefits of his policies.
A late 19th-century ideological conflict between Protestant and secular groups, the political struggle revolved around equalising public financing for different religious schools.
Kuyper's political philosophies continue to shape Dutch politics, fostering a collaborative relationship between Catholic and Protestant factions. He championed the principle of equality, asserting that the poor are not inferior to the rich, nor are the wealthy inherently superior to those in poverty.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Vincent van Gogh is among the most renowned Dutch painters of the 19th century. His post-impressionist style has significantly shaped modern Dutch art and continues to influence contemporary painters.
In his works, Van Gogh employed bold colours and expressive imagery in his landscapes and portraits.
Despite creating masterpieces that are celebrated today, Vincent van Gogh did not achieve success during his lifetime.
Born in Zundert, Netherlands, on March 30, 1853, van Gogh left his well-to-do family to pursue life as an artist. Some of his most famous works include: Sunflowers, Irises and, of course, Starry Night. So profound is van Gogh's influence that American singer Don McLean wrote a song about him.
Van Gogh spent his last years in France, where he experienced his artistic breakthrough. Still, many knew him as the "mad" artist or painter who fought with friends and cut off his own ear. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
Some people strive for greatness as a matter of course, whether or not they do so intentionally. Others fall into greatness by sheer happenstance.
Ms ten Boom falls into the latter. Growing up in a happy family, she saw for herself a career as a watchmaker, following in her father's footsteps. She had no idea of the role she would play in helping save humanity.
In 1922, Corrie became the first woman to become a certified watchmaker. With her future assured, she then established a youth club, which welcomed teenage girls to workshops and community activities.
All that changed in 1940, once Germany invaded the Netherlands. The ten Boom family was spurred into action when a strange woman appeared in their home, urging them to help.
The entire family swung into action, saving one life at a time, risking their own. Those experiences, along with a stint in a concentration camp, shaped Corrie's career as a writer.
Anne Frank (1929-1945)
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt. She spent most of her life in and around Amsterdam. Her family moved to the Netherlands in 1934, shortly after the Nazis gained control of Germany.
The family hid for two years to avoid capture and confinement. During that time, Anne wrote a diary, expressing her wishes, experiences and fears.
The published journal, The Diary of a Young Girl, first appeared as written, in its original Dutch language.
Since then, her words live on in more than 70 languages; it is one of the world's most widely recognised books. Through it, Anne Frank has become a beacon of freedom and strength.
The Anne Frank House - the Secret Annex, still stands. It is one of the Netherlands' most visited museums, welcoming over a million visitors each year.
Ruud Lubbers (1939-2018)
More market, less government.
Ruud Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers was the longest-serving Prime Minister in Dutch history. He held this office from 1982 to 1994, leaving an impressive legacy behind.
By all accounts, Lubbers was a great team leader and notable economist. During his time as Prime Minister, he helped rebuild the Dutch economy after the recession in the 1980s.
During this time, he reformed Social Security and reduced the deficit. He also worked as a humanitarian addressing many important social causes. His problem-solving skills were legendary, as was his knowledge of political matters.
Lubbers believed that funding the sprawling Holland government ate too much of the economy. He encouraged industries to create more jobs. Lubbers also worked with the United Nations and the European Union during his long political career.
Johan Cruyff (1947-2016)
Johan Cruyff guided the Netherlands to the finals of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, earning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Following his retirement from playing, he took on managerial roles at Ajax and Barcelona.
Johan was one of the best footballers in the history of the sport. Not content to make only one mark on the game, he became a revolutionary coach.
Sport historians credit Cruyff with implementing the Total Football strategy in the early 70s.
Today, it is standard practice for players to play at least two positions. In 1999, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics voted Johan Cruyff the European Player of the Century.
Historically, players were trained to play one position only. Total football entails cross-training players for every position.
Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020)
Born in Amsterdam, Eddie Van Halen is one of the most renowned musicians of his era. Rolling Stone magazine ranks him as the eighth-greatest guitarist of all time.
The publication Guitar World contends Eddie is the greatest of all time, full-stop. His Eruption guitar solo is a sterling example of his technical and virtuoso guitar skills.
The Van Halen family moved to the United States when Eddie was six years old. He'd grown up in a musical family and had a keen interest in finding his place in music.
In 1972, Van Halen formed a band named Genesis, apparently overlooking the already-famous band by that name. His first band was not successful under any name.
The band reached mainstream success in 1977, after record producer Ted Templeman heard them. Van Halen (the band) released their first album in 1978. Eddie continues to influence many guitarists, and remains one of the Netherlands' greatest treasures.
Ruud Gullit (1962-)
An attacking midfielder, Gullit was captain of the Netherlands national team at the Union of European Football Association (UEFA Euro) in 1988, when they won the tournament.
He's played for other high-profile teams, such as Chelsea, Milan and HFC Haarlem. FIFA featured Ruud Gullit on its 2004 list of Top 125 Greatest Living Footballers.
Known for his long dreads and moustache, Gullit won the Ballon d'Or in 1987.
Twice, he earned the votes to be World Soccer Player of the Year, in 1987 and 1989. This highlights reel demonstrates how well-deserved those awards are.
Ruud Gullit has retired from playing. Now, he's the assistant manager of the Netherlands' national football team, a position he has held since 2017.
Sarina Wiegman (1969-)
Sarina Wiegman has become one of the most influential figures in the evolution of womenâs football. Starting at age six, she began her football training. Before stepping into management, she built a strong playing career with the Dutch national team, earning over 100 caps and bringing a calm, disciplined midfield presence to the pitch.
Wiegmanâs tenure with the Netherlands womenâs national team was transformative. She led the squad to victory at the UEFA Womenâs Euro 2017 on home soil, a landmark achievement that significantly elevated the profile of womenâs football in the country.
Her success earned international recognition, and she later took charge of the England womenâs national team. There, she made history once again, leading England to their first major tournament victory at the UEFA Womenâs Euro 2022 and once again in 2025. Today, she stands as one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in global football.
Marianne Vos (1987-)
The Netherlands is famous for its talented football players. It's also a hotbed of cycling talent. For example, the Dutch cyclist, Mariann Vos is one of the finest cyclists of her generation.
As a road bicycle racer, mountain bike racer and track racer. Marianne Vos has won many world championships and Olympic medals. Most notably, the gold medal in the points race at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
Her cycling skills also claimed the gold medal in the road race at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Marianne Vos is one of the Netherlands' most recognisable athletes. She stands among the most memorable people in Dutch history who have brought the Netherlands to prominence on the world stage. She is in decidedly good company.
Max Verstappen (1997-)
Max Verstappen is one of the most recognisable and influential Dutch athletes of the 21st century. He grew up surrounded by motorsportâhis father, Jos Verstappen, was a Formula 1 driver, and his mother, Sophie Kumpen, also competed professionallyâso racing became a natural part of his life from an early age
By the time Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut at age 17 - the youngest ever to participate - he had already shown remarkable maturity and racecraft for his age.
He went on to win his first F1 World Championship in dramatic fashion, becoming the first Dutch driver ever to achieve the titleâan accomplishment that generated enormous pride throughout the Netherlands.
Beyond his individual success, he has also helped spark a new wave of enthusiasm for motorsport in the Netherlands, inspiring countless young fans and establishing himself as a true icon in Dutch sporting history.
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I really enjoyed reading about Anne frank and Vincent Van Gogh.
Hi Lily, thank you for your comment! Anne Frank and Vincent van Gogh are undeniably two of the most renowned figures in Dutch history, each making a lasting mark on the world. Iâm glad you enjoyed reading about them!
My favorite Dutch person was Corrie ten Boom and her family. I read almost all her books, saw her speak in person. Holland should do more to honor her and her family.
Hi Iris, thank you for reading! Corrie ten Boom and her family are indeed inspiring! Hearing her speak in person must have been amazing.
Max Verstappen?
Hi! Thanks for the suggestion! Max Verstappen is definitely a modern Dutch icon. His achievements in Formula 1 have brought a lot of pride to the Netherlands.
Where’s Super Max?
Where is Joost Klein?