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 Johan Gijsbert Verstolk van Soelen (1776–1845), 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 Annie van 't Zelfde (1913–2002), jazz musician Annie de Reuver (1917–2016), singer and record producer Marten Toonder (1912–2005), comic 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), comic artist
1940s Gerard Cox (1940–2025), cabaretier Wim Mager (1940–2008), photographer, director of the Apenheul Primate Park Neelie Kroes (born 1941), politician Leo Beenhakker (1942–2025), football coach Pim Doesburg (1943–2020), football goalkeeper Jules Deelder (1944–2019), poet and writer Marianne Heemskerk (born 1944), swimmer Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect Heleen Dupuis (born 1945), ethicist, politician Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player Martin van Creveld (born 1946), Israeli military historian Wim Jansen (1946–2022), footballer André van Duin (born 1947), comedian Bill van Dijk (born 1947), musical performer, singer Ronald Sørensen (born 1947), politician Johnny Young (born 1947), Australian singer Pim Fortuyn (1948–2002), politician Johan Boskamp (born 1948), footballer, footballmanager and TV personality Rudolf van den Berg (1949–2025), film director and screenwriter
1950s Joke Bruijs (1952–2025), actress, singer, cabaret artist Ron Steens (1952–2024), 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 Semmy Schilt (born 1973), kickboxer and mixed martial artist 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 Remon Stotijn (born 1975), rapper Francisco Elson (born 1976), basketball player 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 Dex Elmont (born 1984), judoka Iekeliene Stange (born 1984), fashion model Jan Versteegh (born 1985), television presenter and singer Feis Ecktuh (1986–2019), rapper Luigi Bruins (born 1987), footballer Royston Drenthe (born 1987), footballer Nouchka Fontijn (born 1987), boxer Hef (born 1987), rapper Michiel Kramer (born 1988), footballer Cuco Martina (born 1989), 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 Nigel Melker (born 1991), racing driver Joey Dale (born 1993), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer Abbey Hoes (born 1994), actress Rahima Ayla Dirkse (born 1994), model and beauty queen Oliver Heldens (born 1995), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer Rodny Lopes Cabral (born 1995), footballer Denzel Dumfries (born 1996), footballer Jordan Larsson (born 1997), Swedish footballer Halil Dervişoğlu (born 1999), footballer Tyrell Malacia (born 1999), footballer
2000s Lutsharel Geertruida (born 2000), footballer Crysencio Summerville (born 2001), footballer Sidny Lopes Cabral (born 2002), footballer Jorrel Hato (born 2006), footballer
References