Famous Dutch Sportspersons

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One. He made his first entry at 2015 Australian Grand Prix. Son of former Formula One racing-driver Jos Verstappen, Max has emerged as the most successful Dutch driver who has scored most career points, won a Formula One World Championship in 2021 and achieved a pole position.  

Patrick Kluivert was one of the star Dutch footballers of his time who played as a striker for clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona, and AC Milan. The UEFA Euro 2000 Golden Boot winner has also managed teams such as Netherlands and Cameroon. He later held administrative positions at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Ruud Gullit is a Dutch former football player. Considered one of the greatest players in the history of football, Gullit was known for his versatility as he could play as an attacking midfielder, forward, or midfielder. During the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship, he led his national team to its first title.

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.    

Widely considered one of the best Dutch soccer players of all time, Arjen Robben is known for his long-range shots, ball control, speed, and dribbling skills. He helped his national team reach the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which they lost to Spain.

Retired Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder was known as one of the best midfielders of his time. Starting his senior career with Ajax, he later had successful stints with Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Galatasaray. He was also part of the Dutch squad that became the 2010 FIFA World Cup runner-up.

Retired Dutch footballer Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who played as a striker, had successful stints with club such as Ajax and Schalke 04, winning the KNVB Cup thrice with the former, among other championships. He was also part of the Dutch squad that became the runner-up at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Dutch footballer Ryan Babel who plays as both a striker and a midfielder, currently represents the Turkish club Eyüpspor. Starting his senior career with Ajax, he won both the KNVB Cup and the Eredivisie twice with them. He was also part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup runner-up Dutch team.

Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch retired football player who played for the Netherlands national football team from 2004 to 2014. He represented his country at important tournaments, including the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups. In 2006, he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. Dirk Kuyt was also an important player for popular clubs like Liverpool and Fenerbahçe. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy is a Dutch former football player who is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of football. In 2004, he was included in Pele's FIFA 100 list. Ruud van Nistelrooy played for the Netherlands national football team from 1998 to 2011, during which he represented the team in several important tournaments.

Clarence Seedorf is a Dutch former football player. Widely considered one of the best midfielders of his era, Seedorf was included in Pelé's FIFA 100 list in 2004. Having won several continental and domestic titles for clubs in the Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, and Spain, Clarence Seedorf is one of the most celebrated and decorated Dutch players of all time.

Dutch footballer Virgil van Dijk plays as a defender for Liverpool and has won several titles, such as a Premier League, with them. Starting his senior career with Groningen, he later played for teams such as Celtic and Southampton. He is the only defender to be named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year.

Guus Hiddink is a Dutch retired footballer who played as a midfielder. He retired as a player in 1982 and started focusing on his career as a manager. Hiddink achieved immense success as a manager as he guided many clubs and countries to achieve various titles. In 2005 and 2006, Guus Hiddink was honored with the prestigious Rinus Michels Award.

Dutch football coach and retired footballer Jaap Stam is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his time. Starting his senior career with FC Zwolle, he later had successful stints with clubs such as Manchester United, Ajax, and PSV. Post-retirement, he has also coached teams such as Reading and PEC Zwolle.

Once one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, Dutch football coach and retired footballer Robin van Persie is also known as one of the greatest strikers of his time. He had successful stints with Arsenal and Manchester United and was also part of the Dutch squad that was the 2010 FIFA World Cup runner-up.

Dutch formerfootball  player Ronald Koeman was one of the stars of the Netherlands national team during his playing days. After his retirement, he became a professional football manager and is currently the head coach of La Liga club Barcelona. Tremendously successful as a head coach, he was made the manager of Barcelona in 2020.

Dutch football coach and retired player Dennis Bergkamp had a successful playing career with clubs such as Ajax, Arsenal, and Inter Milan. Initially a midfielder, he later played as a striker. The 2-time FIFA World Player of the Year bronze winner also gained the nickname the Non-Flying Dutchman for his fear of flying.

Ajax CEO and retired Dutch footballer Edwin van der Sar began his senior career with Ajax, winning countless titles with them, such as the Eredivisie and the UEFA Champion’s League. The talented goalkeeper later had successful stints with Juventus, Fulham, and Manchester United. He has also been a 2-time Best European Goalkeeper.

Nordin Amrabat is a Dutch-born Moroccan football player. After representing the Dutch national team at youth levels, Amrabat went on to play for the Morocco national team from 2011 to 2019. He played for Morocco in important tournaments like Africa Cup of Nations and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Nordin Amrabat currently plays for AEK Athens.

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.

Bas Rutten is a Dutch–American actor, former kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and professional wrestler. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a King of Pancrase world champion, Rutten finished his career on a high as he remained unbeaten for the last 22 fights of his career. In 2015, Bas Rutten was made an inductee of the UFC Hall of Fame.

Retired Dutch racing driver Jos Verstappen, who had an illustrious career with Formula One, had begun his career with karting at age 8. He raced for 7 teams, including Benetton and Minardi. He later turned to coaching and trained his son Max Verstappen, who became a Formula One World Champion in 2021.

Patrick van Aanholt is a Dutch footballer who plays for the Netherlands national team. In 2019, he was part of the team that won the silver medal at the UEFA Nations League. He also represented his country at UEFA Euro 2020. Patrick van Aanholt has also played for popular clubs like Sunderland and Crystal Palace. He currently plays for Galatasaray.

Wim Hof, or The Iceman, is a Dutch extreme athlete and motivational speaker who holds a Guinness record for the fastest half-marathon completed barefoot on ice/snow. He has also devised the Wim Hof Method, which helps one gain control over one’s body through extreme cold tolerance.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a Dutch former football player who played for the Netherlands national football team from 1998 to 2002. He also played for popular clubs like Chelsea and Atlético Madrid. After retiring as a player, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pursued a career as a football manager. He has managed teams like Burton Albion, Queens Park Rangers, and Northampton Town.

Dutch footballer Georginio Wijnaldum plays as a midfielder for the Italian club Roma and the French club Paris Saint-Germain. Starting his youth career with Feyenoord, as the youngest-ever player of the club, he later had successful stints with Liverpool and PSV and was the 2014 FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Dutch squad.

Dutch footballer Vivianne Miedema is a forward for Arsenal Women FC. She is regarded as one of the world’s greatest strikers and has also had a successful stint with Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga twice with them. She was named the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year in 2021.