Cultural Production in
Present Day
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands ranks #13 by number of biographies on Pantheon, behind India, Canada, and Sweden. The most famous people from Netherlands are Vincent van Gogh, Baruch Spinoza, and Rembrandt. The most famous people who died in Netherlands are Baruch Spinoza, Rembrandt, and Wilhelm II, German Emperor. Netherlands has been the birthplace of many soccer players, and athletes and the death place of many painters, and politicians. The top cities in Netherlands by number of people born are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Haarlem, and Utrecht.
People
Between 25 and 2008, present-day Netherlands was the birthplace of 2,139 globally memorable people, including Vincent van Gogh, Baruch Spinoza, and Rembrandt. Additionally, 672 globally memorable people died in present-day Netherlands, including Baruch Spinoza, Rembrandt, and Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
People Born in Present-Day Netherlands
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Vincent van Gogh
Painter
1853 - 1890
HPI: 93.26
Rank: 1
Baruch Spinoza
Philosopher
1632 - 1677
HPI: 90.63
Rank: 2
Rembrandt
Painter
1606 - 1669
HPI: 90.59
Rank: 3
Erasmus
Philosopher
1466 - 1536
HPI: 88.33
Rank: 4
William III of England
Politician
1650 - 1702
HPI: 87.81
Rank: 5
Johannes Vermeer
Painter
1632 - 1675
HPI: 87.28
Rank: 6
Piet Mondrian
Painter
1872 - 1944
HPI: 84.15
Rank: 7
Johan Cruyff
Soccer Player
1947 - 2016
HPI: 84.03
Rank: 8
Pope Adrian VI
Religious Figure
1459 - 1523
HPI: 83.91
Rank: 9
Hieronymus Bosch
Painter
1450 - 1516
HPI: 83.79
Rank: 10
Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Painter
1525 - 1569
HPI: 83.58
Rank: 11
Mata Hari
Dancer
1876 - 1917
HPI: 82.51
Rank: 12
Newly Added People Born in Present-Day Netherlands
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Dick Schoof
Politician
1957 - Present
HPI: 75.84
Rank: 34
Johan Neeskens
Soccer Player
1951 - 2024
HPI: 73.59
Rank: 54
Freddy Heineken
Businessperson
1923 - 2002
HPI: 62.85
Rank: 336
Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza
Businessperson
1921 - 2002
HPI: 60.81
Rank: 461
Herman Brood
Musician
1946 - 2001
HPI: 60.20
Rank: 503
Robert Wolders
Actor
1936 - 2018
HPI: 57.63
Rank: 646
George Kooymans
Musician
1948 - 2025
HPI: 57.26
Rank: 667
Witte de With
Military Personnel
1599 - 1658
HPI: 55.56
Rank: 779
Maarten 't Hart
Writer
1944 - Present
HPI: 54.99
Rank: 810
Dean Huijsen
Soccer Player
2005 - Present
HPI: 54.37
Rank: 841
Anna Weber-van Bosse
Biologist
1852 - 1942
HPI: 53.90
Rank: 870
Harry Dénis
Soccer Player
1896 - 1971
HPI: 53.72
Rank: 881
People Deceased in Present-Day Netherlands
Go to all RankingsBaruch Spinoza
Philosopher
1632 - 1677
HPI: 90.63
Rank: 1
Rembrandt
Painter
1606 - 1669
HPI: 90.59
Rank: 2
Wilhelm II, German Emperor
Politician
1859 - 1941
HPI: 88.47
Rank: 3
Johannes Vermeer
Painter
1632 - 1675
HPI: 87.28
Rank: 4
Maria Montessori
Philosopher
1870 - 1952
HPI: 84.59
Rank: 5
Hieronymus Bosch
Painter
1450 - 1516
HPI: 83.79
Rank: 6
John Amos Comenius
Philosopher
1592 - 1670
HPI: 82.84
Rank: 7
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Biologist
1632 - 1723
HPI: 82.46
Rank: 8
Christiaan Huygens
Physicist
1629 - 1695
HPI: 82.04
Rank: 9
Hendrik Lorentz
Physicist
1853 - 1928
HPI: 81.81
Rank: 10
Slobodan Milošević
Politician
1941 - 2006
HPI: 81.78
Rank: 11
Pieter Zeeman
Physicist
1865 - 1943
HPI: 80.53
Rank: 12
Newly Added People Deceased in Present-Day Netherlands
Go to all RankingsFreddy Heineken
Businessperson
1923 - 2002
HPI: 62.85
Rank: 261
Herman Brood
Musician
1946 - 2001
HPI: 60.20
Rank: 387
Helene Kröller-Müller
Artist
1869 - 1939
HPI: 58.07
Rank: 475
Ramses Shaffy
Singer
1933 - 2009
HPI: 55.45
Rank: 572
Anna Weber-van Bosse
Biologist
1852 - 1942
HPI: 53.90
Rank: 607
Harry Dénis
Soccer Player
1896 - 1971
HPI: 53.72
Rank: 614
Rob de Nijs
Singer
1942 - 2025
HPI: 53.71
Rank: 615
Anthony Geary
Actor
1947 - 2025
HPI: 52.30
Rank: 648
Christian Gyan
Soccer Player
1978 - 2021
HPI: 40.97
Rank: 670
Jarrod Bannister
Athlete
1984 - 2018
HPI: 28.67
Rank: 672
Occupations
Most people born in present-day Netherlands were soccer players (532), athletes (337), politicians (165), painters (155), and cyclists (126), while most who died were painters (151), politicians (116), writers (49), soccer players (47), and biologists (24).
Places
Overlapping Lives
Below is a visualization of the lifespans of the top 25 globally memorable people born in present-day Netherlands since 1700.
