List of people from Rotterdam

For a more extensive alphabetic list, see People from Rotterdam. For a list of people who served as mayor of Rotterdam, see List of mayors of Rotterdam.

Erasmus of Rotterdam

Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

Pierre Bayle

J. van 't Hoff

Willem de Kooning

Edsger W. Dijkstra

Rem Koolhaas

This is a chronological list of the most notable people from Rotterdam, who were either born and raised there or were long-term residents.

Born in Rotterdam

15th century

• Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536), humanist (long-term resident, born in Gouda)

16th century

• Piet Hein (1577–1629), naval officer (born in Delfshaven)
• Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (1591–1624), painter

17th century

• Simon de Vlieger (1601–1653), painter
• Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh (1610–1670), painter
• Willem Kalf (1619–1693), painter
• Aert Jansse van Nes (1626–1693), naval officer
• Pieter de Hooch (1629–1684), painter
• Pierre Bayle (1647–1706), theologian and philosopher
• Grinling Gibbons (1648–1721), wood carver
• Adriaen van der Werff (1659–1722), painter (born in Kralingen)
• Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733), philosopher, political economist and satirist
• Henrik Brenkman (1681–1736), jurist
• James_Scott,_Duke_of_Monmouth (1649-1685), illegitimate son of Charles II of England

18th century

• Pieter Hellendaal (1721–1799), composer
• Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp (1762–1834), politician
• Hendrik Tollens (1780–1856), poet

19th century

• Willem Hendrik de Vriese (1802–1862), botanist
• Jacobus van 't Hoff (1852–1911), chemist
• George Hendrik Breitner (1857–1923), painter
• Sophia Goudstikker (1865-1926), feminist and photographer
• Kees van Dongen (1877–1968), painter
• Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882–1944), writer
• Louis Davids (1883–1939), cabaretier
• Dina Appeldoorn (1884–1938), composer and pianist
• Anthony van Hoboken (1887–1983), musicologist
• Hans Kramers (1894–1952), physicist
• Rudolf van Reest (1897–1979), writer
• Sidney J. van den Bergh (1898–1977), manager, general and politician
• Pieter Menten (1899–1987), art collector and war criminal

20th century

1900s

• Harry Gideonse (1901–1985), American President of Brooklyn College, and Chancellor of the New School for Social Research
• Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), painter
• Bep van Klaveren (1907–1992), boxer

1910s

• Marie Braun (1911–1982), swimmer
• Joseph Luns (1911–2002), politician
• Christiaan Lindemans (1912–1946), double agent
• Leo Fuld (1912–1997), singer
• Marten Toonder (1912–2005), comics artist
• Willy den Ouden (1918–1997), swimmer
• Sacco van der Made (1918–1997), actor (voice of the Dutch Scrooge McDuck)
• Rie Mastenbroek (1919–2003), Olympic 3-time gold medal swimmer

1920s

• Nida Senff (1920–1995), swimmer
• Bram Appel (1921–1997), footballer
• Norbert Schmelzer (1921–2008), politician
• George Blake (1922-2020), spy
• Thea Beckman (1923–2004), author
• Faas Wilkes (1923–2006), footballer
• Rita Reys (1924–2013), jazz singer
• Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (1925–2019), politician
• Hans Kuypers (1925–1989), neuroscientist
• Henk Hofland (1927–2016), journalist, columnist and writer

1930s

• Bob den Uyl (1930–1992), writer
• Edsger Dijkstra (1930–2002), computer scientist
• Jan Hoogstad (1930–2018), architect
• Gerrit Noordzij (1931–2022), typographer, typeface designer, and author
• Janwillem van de Wetering (1931–2008), writer
• Elly Ameling (born 1933), sopraan
• Toon Meerman (1933–2023), footballer
• Robert Wolders (1936–2018), actor
• Fong Leng (born 1937), Chinese-Dutch fashion designer
• Coen Moulijn (1937–2011), footballer
• Bart Berman (born 1938), pianist
• Greetje Kauffeld (born 1939), jazz singer and Schlager musician
• Ruud Lubbers (1939–2018), politician
• Martin Lodewijk (born 1939), comics artist

1940s

• Gerard Cox (born 1940), cabaretier
• Wim Mager (1940–2008), director of the Apenheul Primate Park
• Neelie Kroes (born 1941), politician
• Leo Beenhakker (born 1942), football coach
• Pim Doesburg (1943-2020), football goalkeeper
• Jules Deelder (1944–2019), poet and writer
• Marianne Heemskerk (born 1944), swimmer
• Heleen Dupuis (born 1945), ethicist, politician
• Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect
• Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player
• Martin van Creveld (born 1946), Israeli military historian
• Wim Jansen (1946–2022), footballer
• André van Duijn (born 1947), comedian
• Bill van Dijk (born 1947), musical performer, singer
• Ronald Sørensen (born 1947), politician
• Pim Fortuyn (1948–2002), politician
• Johan Boskamp (born 1948), footballer, footballmanager and TV personality
• Johnny Young (born 1947), singer

1950s

• Ron Steens (born 1952), hockey player
• Arthur Benjamins (born 1953), artist
• Ineke Donkervoort (born 1953), rower
• Loes Luca (born 1953), actress, comedian, singer
• Anita Meyer (born 1954), singer
• Willem van Veldhuizen (1954), painter
• Tim Steens (born 1955), hockey player
• Peter Houtman (born 1957), footballer
• Joop Hiele (born 1958), football goalkeeper

1960s

• Adrie Andriessen (1960–2021), footballer
• Hans van Baalen (1960–2021), politician
• Euclid Tsakalotos (born 1960), economist, politician
• Berry Westra (born 1961), bridge player
• Paul de Leeuw (born 1962), comedian
• Mario Been (born 1963), footballer, footballmanager
• Jan Mulder (born 1963), pianist, composer, conductor
• Sonny Silooy (born 1963), footballer
• Olaf Ephraim (born 1965), banker, politician
• Francis Hoenselaar (born 1965), dart player
• DJ Sun (born 1966), music producer, DJ, radio host
• Angela Visser (born 1966) model, actress, Miss Holland 1988 and Miss Universe 1989.
• Robert Eenhoorn (born 1968), baseball player

1970s

• Winston Bogarde (born 1970), footballer
• Richard Krajicek (born 1971), tennis player
• Kristie Boogert (born 1973), tennis player
• Ferry Corsten (born 1973), musician
• Eline Jurg (born 1973), bobsledder
• Brenda Starink (born 1974), swimmer
• Ferry Piekart (born 1974), children's writer
• Giovanni van Bronckhorst (born 1975), footballer
• Michiel van den Bos (born 1975), composer
• Suzanna Lubrano (born 1975), singer
• Francisco Elson (born 1976), NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks
• U-Niq (born 1976), rapper
• Madelon Baans (born 1977), swimmer
• Ellery Cairo (born 1978), footballer
• Fatima Moreira de Melo (born 1978), hockey player
• Raemon Sluiter (born 1978), tennis player

1980s

• Pascal Bosschaart (born 1980), footballer
• Robert Doornbos (born 1981), racing driver
• Robin van Persie (born 1983), footballer
• Ruben van Schalm (born 1988), Dutch Photographer
• Dex Elmont (born 1984), judoka
• Iekeliene Stange (born 1984), fashion model
• Feis Ecktuh (1986–2019), rapper
• Luigi Bruins (born 1987), footballer
• Royston Drenthe (born 1987), footballer
• Nouchka Fontijn (born 1987), boxer
• Michiel Kramer (born 1988), footballer

1990s

• Joan Franka (born 1990), Turkish-Dutch singer
• Georginio Wijnaldum (born 1990), footballer
• Kim de Baat (born 1991), racing cyclist
• Gaite Jansen (born 1991), actress
• Tyrell Malacia (born 1999), footballer
• Nigel Melker (born 1991), racing driver
• Abbey Hoes (born 1994), actress
• Rahima Ayla Dirkse (born 1994), model and beauty queen
• Oliver Heldens (born 1995), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer
• Jordan Larsson (born 1997), Swedish footballer
• Joey Dale (born 1993), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer
• Halil Dervişoğlu (born 1999), footballer