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.

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

Erasmus of Rotterdam

Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

Pierre Bayle

J. van 't Hoff

Willem de Kooning

Edsger W. Dijkstra

Rem Koolhaas

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
• Heintje Davids (1888–1975), singer and actress
• 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
• Jan Rotmans (born 1961), professor, scientist and environmental activist
• 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