Famous Dutch Intellectuals & Academics

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 1 
Baruch Spinoza
(One of the Most Important Philosophers of the Early Modern Period)
Baruch Spinoza
6
Birthdate: November 24, 1632
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: February 21, 1677
Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza is best remembered for his rationalist ideas and his posthumously released book Ethics. He opposed Rene Descartes’s ideas and believed that God was an abstract entity. He was later expelled from the Jewish society, while his books were banned by the Catholic Church.
 2 
Hugo Grotius
(Dutch Lawyer, Philosopher and Diplomat Known for His Significant Philosophical Contributions to the Field of International Law)
Hugo Grotius
4
Birthdate: April 10, 1583
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Delft, Netherlands
Died: August 28, 1645

Best known for his iconic book De jure belli ac pacis, or The Rights of War and Peace, Hugo Grotius was a Dutch humanist and author, who had also been a jurist. Due to his involvement in the Calvinist debate, he was exiled to France, where he penned most of his significant works.

 3 
Thierry Baudet
(Politician)
Thierry Baudet
6
Birthdate: January 28, 1983
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Heemstede, Netherlands
Dutch politician and Forum for Democracy founder-leader Thierry Baudet is a Member of the House of Representatives. He has also been a lecturer but has mostly been in the news for his controversial opinions, such as his comparison of unvaccinated people to Jews and COVID-19 restrictions to the Holocaust.
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 4 
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
(Queen Consort of the Netherlands)
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
2
Birthdate: May 17, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The queen consort of the Netherlands, Queen Máxima is the daughter of Argentine politician Jorge Zorreguieta. She initially worked in the sales departments of HSBC and Deutsche Bank. She apparently didn’t know she was meeting a prince when she met her future husband, King Willem-Alexander, at the Seville Spring Fair.

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 5 
Desiderius Erasmus
(Dutch Philosopher and Catholic Theologian Who is Considered One of the Greatest Scholars of the Northern Renaissance)
Desiderius Erasmus
5
Birthdate: October 28, 1466
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died: July 12, 1536

Born as an illegitimate child of a priest from Rotterdam, Desiderius Erasmus later grew up to be a significant figure of the northern Renaissance. He is remembered for his research on free will and for being the first to edit the New Testament, replacing traditional elements with new-age humanism.

 6 
Pim Fortuyn
(Dutch Politician and Sociologist Who Founded the Party 'Pim Fortuyn List')
Pim Fortuyn
4
Birthdate: February 19, 1948
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Driehuis, Netherlands
Died: May 6, 2002

A Dutch sociology professor, Pim Fortuyn was also a prominent politician, who founded the Pim Fortuyn List party. Known for his Islamophobic and anti-immigration comments, he was also openly gay. He was assassinated by a Dutch animal rights activist, who confessed to shooting him for targeting weaker communities in his political campaigns.

 7 
Johan Huizinga
(Cultural historian, Historian, University teacher, Philosopher)
Johan Huizinga
3
Birthdate: December 7, 1872
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Groningen
Died: February 1, 1945

Best known for his The Waning of the Middle Ages, Dutch historian Johan Huizinga is considered one of the pioneers of modern cultural history. Apart from teaching history, he had also taught Indian literature and was once detained by the Nazis for his criticism of fascism.

 8 
Abraham Kuyper
(Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1901 - 1905))
Abraham Kuyper
3
Birthdate: October 29, 1837
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Maassluis, Netherlands
Died: November 8, 1920

After studying subjects such as literature and theology, Abraham Kuyper became a pastor and founded the Calvinist paper De Standaard. He later established the Anti-Revolutionary Party and also served the Netherlands as prime minister. He was also the founder of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.

 9 
Jacobus Arminius
(Theologian, University teacher)
Jacobus Arminius
3
Birthdate: October 10, 1560
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Oudewater
Died: October 19, 1609

Dutch theologian and professor Jacobus Arminius opposed the orthodox Calvinism of his time and introduced a new system, known as Arminianism, in response. He is remembered for his Opera theologica, published posthumously, and for paving the path for the growth of Methodism in the West.

 10 
Ruud Lubbers
(Economist, Politician, Diplomat, Entrepreneur, University teacher)
Ruud Lubbers
3
Birthdate: May 7, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rotterdam

Dutch politician Ruud Lubbers scripted history as the longest-serving prime minister of his country, having held the office for over a decade. He had also been the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. A bright student of economics, he had initially aspired to be academician but took up construction management and eventually, politics.

 11 
Saskia Sassen
(Sociologist)
Saskia Sassen
4
Birthdate: January 5, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands

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.

 12 
Jeroen Dijsselbloem
(Politician, Economist)
Jeroen Dijsselbloem
3
Birthdate: March 29, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Eindhoven, Netherlands

After graduating in agricultural economics, Jeroen Dijsselbloem began his career as an Agriculture & Environment policy officer at the European Parliament. The Labour Party politician later helmed the Dutch ministry of finance and is now the chairman of the Dutch Safety Board. He has also headed the Eurogroup as its president.

 13 
Jan Tinbergen
(Nobel Prize Winner in Economics)
Jan Tinbergen
3
Birthdate: April 12, 1903
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands
Died: June 9, 1994

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.

 14 
Peter Canisius
(Dutch Jesuit Catholic Priest Known for His Strong Support for the Catholic Faith During the Protestant Reformation)
Peter Canisius
2
Birthdate: May 8, 1521
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nijmegen, Netherlands
Died: December 21, 1597
Jesuit scholar Peter Canisius strongly opposed Protestantism. His dedication to the cause of Roman Catholicism in Germany earned him the title of the Second Apostle of Germany. He established many Jesuit colleges in Germany and is remembered for his work Triple Catechism. He is also known as a saint in the Catholic Church.
 15 
Bloeme Evers-Emden
(Teacher, Child psychologist)
Bloeme Evers-Emden
2
Birthdate: July 26, 1926
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: July 18, 2016

A Holocaust survivor, Bloeme Evers-Emden was deported to Auschwitz on the same train as Anne Frank’s family. She grew up to be a prominent child psychologist and lecturer and devoted herself to the research related to the “hidden children" of World War II. Her books include Borrowed Children.

 16 
Bernard Mandeville
(Dutch Philosopher, Political Economist and Satirist)
Bernard Mandeville
3
Birthdate: November 15, 1670
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died: January 21, 1733

Anglo-Dutch social philosopher Bernard Mandeville is best remembered for his satirical work The Fable of the Bees. A qualified physician just like his father, he later settled in London, where he gained fame with his writings. He believed that even the most negative actions are capable of producing positive outcomes.

 17 
L. E. J. Brouwer
(One of the Greatest Mathematicians of the 20th Century and Founder of Modern Topology)
L. E. J. Brouwer
2
Birthdate: February 27, 1881
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Overschie, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died: December 2, 1966

Best remembered for introducing the concepts of the fixed-point theorem and mathematical intuitionism, Dutch mathematician L. E. J. Brouwer was dragged into a controversy when he opposed David Hilbert’s formalism. He was also interested in philosophy and penned volumes such as Life, Art, and Mysticism.

 18 
Sunny Bergman
(Actress)
Sunny Bergman
3
Birthdate: October 19, 1972
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Dutch documentary maker Sunny Bergman is best known for exploring controversial topics such as beauty standards, racism, and sexuality. Her works such as Sunny Side of Sex and Limited Tenability have challenged the mainstream ideals of life. She is also an activist, an author, and an actor.

 19 
Titus Brandsma
Titus Brandsma
2

A Carmelite friar and Catholic priest, Titus Brandsma initially taught theology in the Netherlands. A strong critic of Nazi ideals, he was sent to the Dachau concentration camp, where he was starved and beaten, and eventually poisoned to death. In 1985, he was declared “Blessed” by Pope John Paul II.

 20 
Tjalling C. Koopmans
(Mathematician)
Tjalling C. Koopmans
2
Birthdate: August 28, 1910
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Graveland, Netherlands
Died: February 26, 1985
Nobel Memorial Prize-winning Dutch-American economist Tjalling C. Koopmans is remembered for designing activity analysis, a method meant for distribution of resources for attaining an economic objective at the lowest cost, along with Soviet economist Leonid Kantorovich. His research extended to econometrics and linear programming. He also taught at Yale.
 21 
Jan Swammerdam
(Dutch Biologist and Microscopist Who Was the First to Observe and Describe 'Red Blood Cells')
Jan Swammerdam
2
Birthdate: February 12, 1637
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: February 17, 1680

Dutch naturalist Jan Swammerdam was the first to detect red blood cells. Though a qualified doctor, he never practiced medicine, and took to research instead. Known for his research on anatomy, he also revolutionized the study of insects, proving that the egg, larva, pupa, and adult are all the same organism.

 22 
Wim Duisenberg
(Dutch Politician and Economist Who Served as President of the European Central Bank)
Wim Duisenberg
2
Birthdate: July 9, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Heerenveen, Netherlands
Died: July 31, 2005

Hailed as the Father of the Euro or Mr. Europe, Wim Duisenberg was the first president of the European Central Bank and managed the introduction of a common currency in Europe. He had also been the director of the Nederlandsche Bank and the Dutch minister of finance.

 23 
Joop den Uyl
(Politician)
Joop den Uyl
2
Birthdate: August 9, 1919
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hilversum, Netherlands
Died: December 24, 1987

A pragmatic Dutch political leader, Joop den Uyl studied economics and worked as a civil servant before serving as the country’s prime minister in the 1970s. The Labour Party member is remembered for his social-welfare programs. An anti-military campaigner, he reduced the Dutch military budget and supported international disarmament.

 24 
Frieda Belinfante
(Former Conductor, member of the Dutch resistance during World War II)
Frieda Belinfante
2
Birthdate: May 10, 1904
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: March 5, 1995
 25 
Gemma Frisius
(Physician)
Gemma Frisius
2
Birthdate: December 9, 1508
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Dokkum, Netherlands
Died: May 25, 1555

Gemma Frisius introduced the triangulation method for map-making, that is still an integral part of surveys these days. He also created detailed globes and mathematical instruments and was a co-founder of the Netherlandish school of cartography. He also released the first published drawing of a pinhole camera obscura.

 26 
Coosje van Bruggen
(Sculptor)
Coosje van Bruggen
2
Birthdate: June 6, 1942
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Groningen, Netherlands
Died: January 10, 2009

Dutch-American sculptor Coosje van Bruggen is best known for her collaborations with her sculptor husband, Claes Oldenburg. Their works include Shuttlecocks at the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and Flashlight at the University of Nevada. She has also penned several books and been a sculpture critic at Yale University.

 27 
Cornelius Jansen
(Dutch Catholic Bishop Best Remembered as the Father of a Theological Movement Called 'Jansenism')
Cornelius Jansen
3
Birthdate: October 28, 1585
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Acquoy, Netherlands
Died: May 6, 1638

Cornelius Jansen was the Dutch Catholic bishop of Ypres best remembered as the father of an early modern theological movement called Jansenism, which was declared a heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. Jansenism was used as a major political force in France up until the French Revolution.

 28 
Jan Huyghen van Linschoten
(Dutch Merchant, Trader and Historian)
Jan Huyghen van Linschoten
2
Birthdate: 1563 AD
Birthplace: Haarlem, Netherlands
Died: February 8, 1611

Dutch traveler and trader Jan Huyghen van Linschoten spent 6 years as the bookkeeper of the archbishop of Goa, which was under Portuguese rule then. He wrote important texts, detailing the life and culture of the East Indies, which later helped the Dutch and the English set up trade hubs in India.

 29 
Herman Dooyeweerd
(Professor)
Herman Dooyeweerd
2
Birthdate: October 7, 1894
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: February 12, 1977

Apart from teaching law at Vrije Universiteit, Herman Dooyeweerd also made significant contributions to the domain of philosophy. He co-established the neo-Calvinistic movement known as Reformational philosophy and is best remembered for his suite of fifteen aspects. His works include his 4-volume magnum opus A New Critique of Theoretical Thought.

 30 
Karel van Mander
(Dutch Painter, Poet, Art Historian and Art Theoretician)
Karel van Mander
2
Birthdate: 1548
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Meulebeke, Belgium
Died: September 2, 1606

Dutch painter and poet Karel van Mander was a significant part of the Mannerist movement. Best known for his Het Schilder-boeck, or The Book of Painters, a biographical work on artists and painters of northern Europe, he was patronized by the Haarlem city council.

 31 
Pope Adrian VI
(Former Head of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States (1522 - 1523))
Pope Adrian VI
3
Birthdate: March 2, 1459
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Utrecht, Netherlands
Died: September 14, 1523

Sixteenth-century pope Adrian VI remains the only Dutch to have been a pope and was the last non-Italian pope till John Paul II’s election after over 400 years. He wished to reform the Church but wasn’t able to do much, as he was strongly opposed by many, including Italian cardinals.

 32 
Geert Groote
(Dutch Catholic Deacon Who Was a Key Figure in the 'Devotio Moderna Movement')
Geert Groote
2
Birthdate: 1340
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Deventer, Netherlands
Died: August 20, 1384

Geert Groote was a Dutch Catholic deacon best remembered for founding the Brethren of the Common Life. Groote also played an important role in the Devotio Moderna movement, which promoted genuine pious practices like obedience, humility, and simplicity of life. 

 33 
Pieter Geyl
(Dutch Historian Known for His Studies in Early Modern Dutch History and in Historiography)
Pieter Geyl
1
Birthdate: December 15, 1887
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Dordrecht, Netherlands
Died: December 31, 1966

Pieter Geyl was a Dutch historian best remembered for his studies in historiography and early modern Dutch history. He criticized the work of his contemporaries like Arnold J. Toynbee, with whom he also co-wrote a book titled Can We Know the Pattern of the Past? Geyl also served as a correspondent for the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

 34 
Gisbertus Voetius
(Dutch Theologian)
Gisbertus Voetius
1
Birthdate: March 3, 1589
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Heusden, Netherlands
Died: November 1, 1676

A Dutch theologian from the 17th century, Gisbertus Voetius was a Calvinist scholar. He promoted the Calvinist take on predestination, taught theology at Utrecht, and was also the youngest delegate of the Synod of Dort. Politica Ecclesiastica and Diatriba de Theologia remain two of his best-known works.

 35 
Gerard van der Leeuw
(Dutch Historian and Philosopher of Religion)
Gerard van der Leeuw
1
Birthdate: March 18, 1890
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands
Died: November 18, 1950

Gerard van der Leeuw was a Dutch historian, ordained minister, philosopher of religion, and politician. He is best remembered for his influential work Religion in Essence and Manifestation, which was originally published in German and later translated to English in 1938. Gerard van der Leeuw also served as a professor at the University of Groningen.

 36 
Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer
(Dutch Politician and Historian)
Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer
1
Birthdate: August 21, 1801
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Netherlands
Died: May 19, 1876

Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer was a Dutch historian and politician who worked under William II of the Netherlands, serving as his secretary. He then went on to lead the Anti-Revolutionary Party and became known as an influential political writer. Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer also played an important role in the evangelical renewal movement, which was called Réveil in the Netherlands.

 37 
Gerardus Vossius
(Dutch Theologian)
Gerardus Vossius
1
Birthdate: 1577
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany
Died: March 19, 1649

Gerardus Vossius was a Dutch theologian and scholar. His works as a professor of rhetoric were used as textbooks in many universities. Vossius had a lasting impact on Thomas Farnaby, whose work Latin Grammar was heavily influenced by Gerardus Vossius' works.

 38 
Jan de Vries
(Linguist, Philologists)
Jan de Vries
0
Birthdate: February 11, 1890
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: July 23, 1964

Jan de Vries was a Dutch linguist, philologist, folklorist, religious studies scholar, educator, public official, writer, and editor. Jan De Vries, who specialized in Germanic studies, also studied Dutch, Pali, and Sanskrit at the University of Amsterdam. He was appointed Chair of Germanic philology at the University of Leiden where he played a key role as an administrator and lecturer. 

 39 
Philips of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde
(Writer)
Philips of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde
1
Birthdate: 1538 AD
Birthplace: Brussels, Belgium
Died: December 15, 1598

Dutch poet Philips of Marnix is best remembered for his translation of the Psalms. He managed to anger the Roman Catholics with his works such as The Beehive of the Roman Catholic Church and thus spent a year as a prisoner. It’s believed that he wrote the Dutch national anthem, Wilhelmus van Nassouwe.

 40 
Simon Episcopius
(Dutch Theologian)
Simon Episcopius
1
Birthdate: January 8, 1583
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: April 4, 1643

Simon Episcopius was a Dutch Remonstrant and theologian who played an important role at the Synod of Dort, an international Synod held by the Dutch Reformed Church in Dordrecht in 1618. A fierce supporter of the Arminian cause, Episcopius is credited with developing and systematizing the principles enunciated by Arminius.  

 41 
Johannes Cocceius
(Dutch Theologian)
Johannes Cocceius
1
Birthdate: August 9, 1603
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Died: November 5, 1669

A renowned 17th-century professor of biblical philology and theology, Johannes Cocceius was a prominent part of the Reformed Church. Best known for works such as Summa doctrinae de foedere et testamento Dei, he believed the relation between God and man was a covenant. He thus promoted the covenant, or federal, theology.

 42 
Willem Visser 't Hooft
(Dutch Theologian Who Became the First Secretary General of the World Council of Churches)
Willem Visser 't Hooft
1
Birthdate: September 20, 1900
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Haarlem, Netherlands
Died: July 4, 1985

Willem Visser 't Hooft served the World Council of Churches as its first secretary-general. The Dutch theologian and clergyman had also been the World Committee secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association. He emerged as a major figure of the ecumenical movement in the post-war era.

 43 
Dirck Coornhert
(Dutch Writer, Philosopher, Poet, Playwright and Theologian)
Dirck Coornhert
1
Birthdate: June 1, 1522
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: October 29, 1590

Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert, or Theodore Cornhert, was the man who introduced Humanism in Dutch literature. Known for works such as Liedekens, De wellevenskunste, and Comedie van Israël, he was an engraver in Haarlem and also worked for the city’s government. He also created the manifesto of William the Silent, Prince of Orange.

 44 
Franciscus Gomarus
(Dutch Theologian)
Franciscus Gomarus
1
Birthdate: January 30, 1563
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium
Died: January 11, 1641

Franciscus Gomarus was a Dutch theologian and Calvinist who served as a professor at the University of Leiden. He is best remembered for his disputes with his colleague Jacobus Arminius; Franciscus Gomarus led a group of people opposing Arminius' views and this group came to be known as the Gomarists.

 45 
François Hemsterhuis
(Writer)
François Hemsterhuis
1
Birthdate: December 27, 1721
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Groningen, Netherlands
Died: July 7, 1790

The Dutch Socrates, François Hemsterhuis is best remembered for his works on aesthetics and moral philosophy. One of the first Dutch authors to represent the Enlightenment, he was also one of the pioneers of Romanticism in the Netherlands. His best-known works, such as Sophyle and Alexis, were all authored in French.

 46 
Eduard Bomhoff
(Politician, Economist)
Eduard Bomhoff
0
Birthdate: September 30, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands

A renowned economist, Eduard Bomhoff has not just been the deputy prime minister of the Netherlands but has also helmed the Dutch ministry of health, welfare, and sport. He has also worked for the IMF and now teaches economics at the Kuala Lumpur campus of Monash University.

 47 
Willem Bilderdijk
(Dutch Poet, Historian, Lawyer and Linguist)
Willem Bilderdijk
1
Birthdate: September 7, 1756
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died: December 18, 1831

Willem Bilderdijk was a Dutch poet, lawyer, historian, and linguist. He is best known for his association with Louis Bonaparte, who appointed him as the president of the Royal Institute. Willem Bilderdijk is credited with founding a spiritual movement called Het Réveil and among his students were Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, Willem de Clercq, and Abraham Capadose.

 48 
Nicolaas Beets
(Dutch Theologian, Novelist and Poet)
Nicolaas Beets
1
Birthdate: September 13, 1814
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Haarlem, Netherlands
Died: March 13, 1903

Nicolaas Beets was a Dutch author, professor, poet, and preacher. He is credited with founding a Protestant school, which is now known by the name, Nicolaas Beetsschool. Nicolaas Beets is also remembered for his magnum opus Camera Obscura, which continues to be celebrated even today.

 49 
Jan van Hout
(Dutch scholar)
Jan van Hout
0
Birthdate: December 14, 1542
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leiden, Netherlands
Died: December 12, 1609

Jan van Hout served as the secretary of the city of Leiden and its university. He played a key role in the development of Leiden by bringing in craftsmen from the Walloon regions and Flanders to modernize the Leiden textile industry and reorganizing the poor relief sector. An award to honor civil servants in Leiden has been named after him.

 50 
Janus Dousa
(Dutch Statesman, Historian, Poet and Philologist)
Janus Dousa
0
Birthdate: December 6, 1545
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Noordwijk, Netherlands
Died: October 8, 1604

Janus Dousa was a Dutch statesman, historian, poet, jurist, and philologist. He is best remembered as the Leiden University Library's first Librarian. Dousa is credited with drawing many illustrious professors and teachers to Leiden University, thanks to his friendships with foreign scholars. As a poet, he published a few collections of poems.