List of people from 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. For a more extensive, alphabetical list see People from Rotterdam.

See also List of mayors of Rotterdam

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

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
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
Sidney J. van den Bergh (1898-1977), manager, general and politician
Pieter Menten (1899-1987), art collector and war criminal

20th century

1900s

Willem de Kooning (1904-1997), painter
Bep van Klaveren (1907-1992), boxer

1910s

Marie Braun (1911-1982), swimmer
Christiaan Lindemans (1912-1946), double agent
Joseph Luns (1911-2002), politician
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 (born 1921), politician
George Blake (born 1922), spy
Thea Beckman (1923-2004), author
Faas Wilkes (1923-2006), footballer
Hans Kuypers (1925–1989), neuroscientist

1930s

Bob den Uyl (1930-1992), writer
Edsger Dijkstra (1930-2002), computer scientist
Janwillem van de Wetering (born 1931), writer
Elly Ameling (born 1933), soprano
Coen Moulijn (1937-2011), footballer
Bart Berman (born 1938), pianist
Ruud Lubbers (born 1939), 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
Marianne Heemskerk (born 1944), swimmer
Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect
Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player

Martin van Creveld (born 1946), Israeli military historian
Wim Jansen (born 1946), footballer
André van Duijn (born 1947), comedian
Ronald Sørensen (born 1947), politician
Pim Fortuyn (1948-2002), politician

1950s

Ron Steens (born 1952), hockey player
Arthur Benjamins (born 1953), artist
Willem van Veldhuizen (1954), painter
Tim Steens (born 1955), hockey player
Peter Houtman (born 1957), footballer

1960s

Euclid Tsakalotos (born 1960), economist, politician
Berry Westra (born 1961), bridge player
Paul de Leeuw (born 1962), comedian
Jan Mulder (born 1963), pianist, composer, conductor
Sonny Silooy (born 1963), footballer
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
Brenda Starink (born 1974), swimmer
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
Fatima Moreira de Melo (born 1978), hockey player
Raemon Sluiter (born 1978), tennis player
DJ Sun, music producer, dj, radio host

1980s

Pascal Bosschaart (born 1980), footballer
Robert Doornbos (born 1981), racing driver
Robin van Persie (born 1983), footballer

Iekeliene Stange (born 1984), fashion model
Luigi Bruins (born 1987), footballer
Royston Drenthe (born 1987), footballer

1990s

Nigel Melker (born 1991), racing driver