Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
Nathan Aké is a Dutch football player who plays for the Netherlands national football team and Manchester City. In 2019, he helped his national team win the runner-up trophy at the UEFA Nations League. Nathan Aké was also part of the Manchester City Football Club that won the Premier League in 2021 and 2022.
From proposing the wave theory of light to discovering the actual shape of the rings of Saturn and inventing the pendulum clock, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens had contributed a lot to science. Born to a diplomat, Huygens had the privilege of an elite education but remain sickly throughout his life.
Juliana of the Netherlands was the Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980, during which she remained a popular member of the Dutch royal family. Her reign witnessed the decolonization and independence of Suriname and the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). Several important places, including the Princess Juliana International Airport, are named after her.
Dutch politician and VVD party leader Mark Rutte has been serving his nation as its prime minister since 2010. While he initially aspired to be a pianist, he later studied history and then worked for Unilever, before stepping into politics. He is known as Teflon Mark for recovering from controversies unscathed.
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, the only child of the King William III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, became queen at age 10. While she remained neutral during World War I, she went into exile to England during World War II. Her autobiography revealed her religious devotion.
Marwan Kenzari is a Tunisian Dutch actor who achieved popularity in 2013 when he won the Golden Calf, the Dutch equivalent of the Oscars, for Best Actor for his portrayal of Majid in the action drama-martial arts film, Wolf. Kenzari went on to achieve international recognition for his portrayal of Joe in the 2020 American superhero film The Old Guard.
Theo van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker, actor, television producer, and author. He was assassinated by a Dutch-Moroccan Islamist named Mohammed Bouyeri for directing a short film titled Submission: Part 1, which was originally written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and opposed the unfair treatment of women in Islam. Theo was 47 years old. His last film 06/05 was released posthumously.
Dutch football coach and former footballer Dick Advocaat was a midfielder and defender in his playing days. He was 18 when he began his senior career and later had successful stints with clubs such as PSV Eindhoven and Rangers. His 2008 UEFA Cup with with Zenit earned him an honorary citizenship of St. Petersburg.
William I of the Netherlands reigned as the king of the Netherlands from 1815 to 1840. Before declaring himself King of the Netherlands, William I had an influential career in the military. In 1790, he was made the Dutch States Army's general of infantry where he served under his father William V, who served as Captain-General.
William II took over as the king of the Netherlands after his father William I’s abdication. His reign witnessed the transformation of his country into a parliamentary democracy through the constitution of 1848. With F.A. van Hall as the finance minister, he helped his country attain a surplus.
Anouk is a Dutch singer widely regarded as the most famous rock singer in the Netherlands. She achieved popularity in 2013 when she represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden with the song, Birds. Anouk is one of the most decorated singers of her generation; she has won several awards like TMF Awards and Edison Music Awards.
Martin Jol is a Dutch former football player who played as a midfielder for popular clubs like Bayern Munich, ADO Den Haag, and West Bromwich Albion. He currently works as a manager for the Egyptian Premier League club, Al-Ahly. Martin Jol has also managed clubs like Fulham, Ajax, Hamburger SV, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Tim Krul is a Dutch football player who plays for the Netherlands national football team and Norwich City. In 2014, he was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the FIFA World Cup. Over the years, Tim Krul has also played for other popular teams like Newcastle United and Falkirk.
Nikolaas Tinbergen was a Dutch ornithologist and biologist. Counted among the founders of modern ethology, Tinbergen shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973 with Konrad Lorenz and Karl von Frisch for their discoveries concerning the social behavior patterns in animals. He is also credited with authoring an influential book on animal behavior titled The Study of Instinct.
Dutch optician Zacharias Janssen is credited with discovering the compound microscope and the first optical telescope. Since he worked along with his father, Hans, many believe Hans had a greater role in his inventions, while others feel the claims of his inventions were mere fabrications by his son.
One of the most popular Dutch rock guitarists of all time, Adrian Vandenberg soared to fame as part of the hard rock bands Whitesnake and Vandenberg. Known for tracks such as Your Love Is In Vain and Burning Heart, he later formed another band, Vandenberg's MoonKings.
William II, Prince of Orange served as the Stadtholder of Holland, Guelders, Utrecht, Zeeland, Groningen, and Overijssel in the United Provinces from 1647 until his death in 1650. William's only son William III ruled over England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Frederique van der Wal is a Dutch former model best known for her work with Victoria's Secret. She has also appeared on the covers of popular magazines like Cosmopolitan and Vogue. Frederique van der Wal is also credited with creating a lifestyle brand named Frederique’s Choice and was honored with the Marie Claire Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011.
Born in the Netherlands, author Michel Faber grew up in Australia. He now lives in Scotland, where he has won countless awards, and mostly writes in English. Initially a nurse, Faber later soared to fame with bestsellers such as The Crimson Petal and the White.
Robbie van Leeuwen is a Dutch pop musician, guitarist, and songwriter. He is credited with founding the successful rock band Shocking Blue and wrote the highly popular song Venus, which earned him international fame. Van Leeuwen was honored with the Buma Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Apart from teaching sociology at Columbia University and LSE, sociologist Saskia Sassen has also devoted over 3 decades of her life to research. She introduced the term global city. The daughter of a Dutch Nazi journalist, she grew up in Argentina and Italy, before studying in France.
A renowned guitarist, George Kooymans was also the founder of the Dutch rock band Golden Earring. A talented songwriter, too, he penned the Billboard-charting Twilight Zone and co-wrote other smash hits such as Radar Love. He also co-wrote tracks for the debut album of Anouk, making her a star.
Best remembered for his econometric models, Jan Tinbergen won the first Nobel Prize for Economics along with Ragnar Frisch. Apart from working on subjects such as the business cycle theory and economic development, he had also been the economic advisor to the League of Nations.
Anna Drijver was six when she began her classical ballet lessons and was already modeling by 14. Known for films such as Bride Fight and series such as Heirs of the Night and Undercover, she is also a podcast maker and a novelist. She also supports the UNHCR and works for displaced people.
Romy Haag is a Dutch dancer, actress, singer, and former nightclub manager. In 1997, she was honored at the 47th Berlin International Film Festival with the Teddy Award. Romy Haag has also published an autobiography titled Eine Frau und mehr.
Georgina Verbaan is a Dutch singer and actress best known for her portrayal of Hedwig Harmsen in the longest-running soap opera in Dutch history, Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. Also an anti-fur activist, Georgina Verbaan supports and encourages a vegetarian diet.
