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.

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
 * 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
 * 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

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
 * 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 (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), 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
 * Pim Doesburg (1943-2020), football goalkeeper
 * Jules Deelder (1944–2019), poet and writer
 * Marianne Heemskerk (born 1944), swimmer
 * Heleen Dupuis (born 1945), ethicist, politician
 * Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect
 * Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player
 * Martin van Creveld (born 1946), Israeli military historian
 * Wim Jansen (1946–2022), footballer
 * André van Duijn (born 1947), comedian
 * Bill van Dijk (born 1947), musical performer, singer
 * Ronald Sørensen (born 1947), politician
 * Pim Fortuyn (1948–2002), politician
 * Johan Boskamp (born 1948), footballer, footballmanager and TV personality
 * Johnny Young (born 1947), singer

1950s

 * Ron Steens (born 1952), 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
 * 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
 * Francisco Elson (born 1976), NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks
 * 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
 * Ruben van Schalm (born 1988), Dutch Photographer
 * Dex Elmont (born 1984), judoka
 * Iekeliene Stange (born 1984), fashion model
 * Feis Ecktuh (1986–2019), rapper
 * Luigi Bruins (born 1987), footballer
 * Royston Drenthe (born 1987), footballer
 * Nouchka Fontijn (born 1987), boxer
 * Michiel Kramer (born 1988), 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
 * Tyrell Malacia (born 1999), footballer
 * Nigel Melker (born 1991), racing driver
 * Abbey Hoes (born 1994), actress
 * Rahima Ayla Dirkse (born 1994), model and beauty queen
 * Oliver Heldens (born 1995), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer
 * Jordan Larsson (born 1997), Swedish footballer
 * Joey Dale (born 1993), Dutch DJ, electronic music producer
 * Halil Dervişoğlu (born 1999), footballer