List of people from Rotterdam

Statue of Erasmus

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

Before the 20th century

• Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536), humanist (long-term resident, born in Gouda)
• Piet Hein (1577-1629), naval officer (born in Delfshaven)
• Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (1591-1624), painter
• 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
• Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), wood carver
• Adriaen van der Werff (1659-1722), painter (born in Kralingen)
• Pieter Hellendaal (1721-1799), composer
• Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp (1762-1834), politician
• Hendrik Tollens (1780-1856), poet
• Willem Hendrik de Vriese (1802-1862), botanist
• Jacobus van 't Hoff (1852-1911), chemist
• George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923), 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, up to 1940

• Willem de Kooning (1904-1997), painter
• Bep van Klaveren (1907-1992), boxer
• Marie Braun (1911-1982), swimmer
• Joseph Luns (1911-2002), politician
• Leo Fuld (1912-1997), singer
• Marten Toonder (1912-2005), comics artist
• Willy den Ouden (1918-1997), swimmer
• Rie Mastenbroek (1919-2003), Olympic 3-time gold medal swimmer
• 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
• 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 (born 1937), footballer
• Bart Berman (born 1938), pianist
• Ruud Lubbers (born 1939), politician
• Martin Lodewijk (born 1939), comics artist
• Gerard Cox (born 1940), cabaretier

After 1940

• Neelie Kroes (born 1941), politician
• Leo Beenhakker (born 1942), football coach
• Jules Deelder (born 1944), poet
• Marianne Heemskerk (born 1944), swimmer
• Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect
• Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player
• Wim Jansen (born 1946), footballer
• André van Duijn (born 1947), comedian
• Ronald Sørensen (born 1947), politician
• Pim Fortuyn (1948-2002), politician
• 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
• Frédérique Spigt (born 1957), singer
• Berry Westra (born 1961), bridge player
• Paul de Leeuw (born 1962), comedian
• Sonny Silooy (born 1963), footballer
• Robert Eenhoorn (born 1968), baseball player
• 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
• 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
• Pascal Bosschaart (born 1980), footballer
• Robert Doornbos (born 1981), racing driver
• Robin van Persie (born 1983), footballer
• Luigi Bruins (born 1987), footballer
• Royston Drenthe (born 1987), footballer
• Jan Mulder (musician) (born 1963), pianist/composer/conductor