Klaas

Klaas is a Dutch male given and surname. It is the Dutch short form of Nicholas, a Greek name ultimately meaning victory of the people. A traditionally common name in the Netherlands, its popularity declined some 20-fold since 1950. Archaic spellings include Claas and Claes. Among its female derivatives are Klaasje, Clasien, Clasina, Clasine, Clazien, Klasien, Klasina and Klaziena. Klaas also exists as a patronymic surname, though the forms Klaasen, Klaassen, Claassen, Claessen, and Claessens are more common.

Notable persons whose given name is Klaas

 * Klaas (fl. 1780), Khoikhoi guide to the explorer François Le Vaillant, who named Klaas's cuckoo after him
 * Klaas Afrikaner (fl. 1760–1800), Nama captain of the Orlam Afrikaners
 * Klaas Annink (1710–1775), Dutch serial killer
 * Klaas Bakker (1926–2016), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas Balk (born 1948), Dutch cyclist
 * Klaas van Berkel (born 1953), Dutch historian of science
 * Klaas de Boer (born 1942), Dutch-born American soccer player
 * Klaas Bolt (1927–1990), Dutch organist and improviser
 * Klaas Bom (born 1937), Dutch engineer
 * Klaas Breeuwer (1901–1961), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas van den Broek (born 1955), Dutch ice hockey player
 * Klaas Bruinsma (1931–2018), Dutch translator to West Frisian
 * Klaas Bruinsma (1953–1991), Dutch drug baron
 * Klaas Buchly (1910–1965), Dutch cyclist
 * Klaas Carel Faber (1922–2012), Dutch WWII war criminal
 * Klaas Dijkhoff (born 1981), Dutch politician and legal scholar
 * Klaas Gerling (born 1981), German DJ known as "Klaas"
 * Klaas de Groot (born 1940), Dutch bioengineer
 * Klaas Gubbels (born 1934), Dutch painter and sculptor
 * Klaas Hendrikse (1947–2018), Dutch atheist pastor
 * Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (born 1983), German television host
 * Klaas van der Horst (1731–1825), Dutch Mennonite teacher and minister
 * Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (born 1983), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas Knot (born 1967), Dutch economist and central banker
 * Klaas Kruik (1678–1754), Dutch cartographer and meteorologist better known as Cruquius
 * Klaas Lodewyck (born 1988), Belgian cyclist
 * Klaas van der Meulen (1642–1693), Dutch glass painter
 * (1930–2008), Dutch organist, pianist, and conductor
 * (1899–1986), Dutch racing cyclist
 * Klaas-Jan van Noortwijk (born 1970), Dutch cricketer
 * Klaas Nuninga (born 1940), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas Ooms (1917–1970), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas Jan Pen (1874–1932), Dutch sports shooter
 * Klaas Plantinga (1846–1922), Dutch distiller
 * Klaas Reimer (1770–1837), Prussian mennonite
 * Klaas Runia (1926–2006), Dutch theologian and journalist
 * Klaas Rusticus (born 1942), Dutch author and television and film director
 * Klaas Schilder (1890–1952), Dutch theologian and professor
 * Klaas Smit (1930–2008), Dutch footballer
 * Klaas Sybrandi (1807–1872), Dutch Mennonite minister
 * Klaas Sys (born 1986), Belgian cyclists
 * Klaas Twisk (1930–1999), Dutch racing driver
 * Klaas Vantornout (born 1982), Belgian cyclist
 * Klaas Veenhof (1935–2023), Dutch Assyriologist
 * Klaas Veering (born 1981), Dutch field hockey goalkeeper
 * Klaas Vermeulen (born 1988), Dutch field hockey player
 * Klaas de Vries (disambiguation), multiple people
 * Klaas de Waard, alias of Aart Alblas (1918–1944), Dutch navy officer and resistance member
 * (1917–1993), Dutch legal scholar and politician
 * Klaas Woldendorp (1871–1936), Dutch sports shooter
 * Klaas Worp (born 1943), Dutch papyrologist
 * Klaas-Erik Zwering (born 1981), Dutch swimmer and an Olympic medalist

Claas

 * Claas Epp, Jr. (1838–1913), Russian Mennonite minister
 * Claas Hugo Humbert (1830–1904), German scientist and writer

Fiction

 * Klaas Vaak is the traditional Dutch name for the Sandman

Notable persons whose surname is Klaas

 * C. J. Klaas (born 1983), American soccer defensive midfielder
 * Kathrin Klaas (born 1984), German hammer thrower
 * Masabata Klaas (born 1991), South African cricketer
 * Polly Klaas (1981–1993), American murder victim
 * Urmas Klaas (born 1971), is Estonian politician
 * Werner Klaas (1914–1945), German footballer