- Anne Frank
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank (June 12, 1929 – early March 1945) was a Jewish girl who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Frank and her family moved to Amsterdam in 1933, after the Nazis gained power in Germany, and were trapped by the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
- Theo van Gogh
Theo van Gogh (July 23, 1957–November 2, 2004) was a Dutch film director, television producer, publicist and actor. He was a descendant of Theo van Gogh, the brother of painter Vincent van Gogh. He was murdered by islamist Mohammed Bouyeri in 2004.
- Multatuli
Eduard Douwes Dekker (Amsterdam, 2 March 1820 - 19 February 1887), better known by his pen name Multatuli, was a Dutch writer famous for his satirical novel, "Max Havelaar" (1860) in which he denounced the abuses of colonialism in the colony of the Dutch East Indies (today's Indonesia).
- Johan Cruijff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. He was named European Footballer of the Year three times (1971, 1973, 1974) which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini and Marco van Basten. Cruijff was the most famous exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by Rinus Michels.
- Job Cohen
Marius Job Cohen (born 18 October 1947) is the current mayor of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Cohen was born in Haarlem to A.E. Cohen and Hetty Coster, who were members of the local liberal Jewish community. Cohen attended the Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem from 1960 to 1966, and obtained his law degree from the University of Groningen in 1971. On 2 June 1972 he married in Groningen. Cohen joined the Netherlands Labour Party on 1 September 1967, …
- Max Euwe
Machgielis (Max) Euwe (May 20, 1901 – November 26, 1981) was a Dutch chess Grandmaster and Mathematician. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion (1935–1937). Euwe also served as President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) from 1970-1978.
- Xaviera Hollander
Xaviera Hollander (born 15 June, 1943) is a former call girl and madam. She was born Vera de Vries in Soerabaja, Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies) to a Jewish father and Christian mother. She is best known as the author of "The Happy Hooker: My Own Story" (1971, ISBN 0-06-001416-4). The book was notable for its frankness at the time and is considered a landmark of positive writing about sex.
- Baruch Spinoza
Baruch de Spinoza (lived November 24, 1632 – February 21, 1677) was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese Jewish origin. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death. Today, he is considered one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy, laying the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism.
- Corrie ten Boom
Cornelia Johanna Arnalda ten Boom, generally known as Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. Ten Boom co-wrote her autobiography, "The Hiding Place", which was later made into a movie of the same name. In December, 1967, Ten Boom was honored as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations" by the State of Israel.
- Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp (born May 10, 1969 in Amsterdam) is a retired Dutch professional footballer. At club level he played for Ajax Amsterdam, Internazionale, Arsenal and also represented the Netherlands at international level. Bergkamp played most of his best games as a support striker, where his tactical awareness and deft passes made him a great exponent of the game from the 'hole'.
- Frank Rijkaard
Franklin Edmundo "Frank" Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. Rijkaard has played for AFC Ajax, Real Zaragoza and AC Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. Since 2003 he has been the manager of FC Barcelona. He is of Surinamese descent.
- Mohammed Bouyeri
Mohammed Bouyeri (born March 8 1978 in Amsterdam), is serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Dutch film director Theo van Gogh. He holds both Dutch and Moroccan citizenship.
- Erick E
Erick E (born as Erick Eerdhuizen, September 20, 1969 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands), is a well-known DJ and producer. He is known for his energetic and danceable mix of grooves, as well as his enthusiastic interaction with the crowd.
- Wim Kok
Willem (Wim) Kok was born in Bergambacht on 29 September 1938. After completing his secondary education he attended Nijenrode Business School. He then did his military service and worked for a trading company for a short time. In 1961, Mr Kok was appointed assistant international officer of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (Construction Sector). He was appointed staff member for economic affairs of the same union in 1965 and union secretary in 1967.
- Paul Verhoeven
Paul Verhoeven (born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, and film producer. He filmed in both the Netherlands and the United States. Explicitly violent and sexual content are trademarks of both his drama and science fiction films. He is best known for directing the American feature films "RoboCop" (1987), "Total Recall" (1990), "Basic Instinct" (1992), and "Starship Troopers" (1997).
- Karel Appel
Karel Appel was a Dutch painter and sculptor, born in Amsterdam. He studied at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten there from 1940 to 1943 and had his first show in Groningen in 1946. He was influenced by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Jean Dubuffet; he joined the Nederlandse Experimentele Groep and joined CoBrA in 1948 together with Corneille, Constant and Jan Nieuwenhuys (see also Aart Kemink).
- Candy Dulfer
Candy Dulfer (born 19 September, 1969, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) is a Dutch smooth jazz alto saxophonist.
- Wouter Bos
Drs. Wouter Jacob Bos (born July 14, 1963 in Vlaardingen) is the Dutch Minister of Finance and deputy prime minister. He is political leader of the Labour Party (PvdA).
- Ryan Babel
Ryan Guno Babel (born December 19, 1986 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch professional football player who currently plays for Liverpool. He is right footed and plays as a striker or a left winger. He has been a member of the Netherlands national football team since 2005
- Patrick Kluivert
Patrick Stephan Kluivert is a Dutch international football striker of Surinamese descent. He currently is without a club, after being released by PSV Eindhoven for whom he signed a one-year deal. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.
- Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit (born September 1, 1962) is a Dutch football coach and former player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a member of the Netherlands national team at the Euro 88 and the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989. He was a versatile player, as he played several positions during his career.
- Louis van Gaal
Aloysius Paulus Maria ("Louis") van Gaal (born August 8, 1951 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager currently in charge of AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.
- Harry Mulisch
Harry Mulisch (born July 29, 1927) is a Dutch author. Along with W.F. Hermans and Gerard Reve, he is considered one of the "Great Three" of Dutch postwar literature. He has written novels, plays, essays, poems, and philosophical reflections.
- Lodewijk Asscher
Lodewijk Frans Asscher (Amsterdam, 27 september 1974) is a Dutch politician. He is alderman of Finances, Economics, Airport and Harbour, and vice-mayor of Amsterdam for the Labour Party. Asscher entered the city council after the Dutch municipal elections of March 2002. Besides his role as the chairman (fractievoorzitter) of the Labour Party in the Amsterdam city council, he took part in the commission on General Affairs.
- Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink CH KBE (b. March 4, 1929) is a Dutch conductor, born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam. He played the violin in orchestras before taking courses in conducting under Ferdinand Leitner in 1954 and 1955. Haitink became second conductor of the Netherlands Radio Union Orchestra in 1955. He took the post of chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in 1957.
- Rinus Michels
Marinus ("Rinus") Jacobus Hendricus Michels (February 9, 1928 - March 3, 2005) was a Dutch football player and coach. He played his entire career for the club Ajax Amsterdam, whom he later coached, and was a member of the Netherlands national team both as a player and as manager. Michels became most notable for his coaching achievements, having won the European Cup with Ajax and the Spanish league with FC Barcelona, …
- Nicolaes Tulp
Nicolaes Tulp (October 9 1593-September 12, 1674) was a Dutch surgeon and mayor of Amsterdam. Born Claes Pieterszoon, he was the son of a prosperous merchant active in civic affairs in Amsterdam. From 1611 to 1614 he studied medicine in Leiden. When he returned to Amsterdam he became a respected doctor and married Aagfe Van der Voegh in 1617.
- Famke Janssen
Famke was born in Holland, where she began her professional career as a model. She later moved to the United States, where she has made her home since 1984. Initially settling in New York, she majored in writing and literature at Columbia University and studied acting with Harold Guskin . She then went to Los Angeles, where she continued to study acting under Roy London . Famke made her feature film debut with Jeff Goldblum in Fathers & Sons (1992).
- Nigel de Jong
Nigel de Jong (born November 30, 1984 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch football player, currently playing for Hamburg. Nigel de Jong is the son of Dutch footballer Jerry de Jong. He began as a youth player for Ajax Amsterdam. In October 2002 he made his debut for Ajax's first team. He quickly made an impact and became a favourite with the fans.
- Gerard Reve
Gerard Kornelis van het Reve (born December 14, 1923 in Amsterdam, Netherlands - died April 8, 2006 in Zulte, Belgium) was a Dutch writer publishing first under the names Simon van het Reve, Darger Taveherven (an anagram) and his official name, although he became known as Gerard Reve. Together with W.F. Hermans and Harry Mulisch, he is considered one of the "Great Three" of Dutch post-war literature.
- Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate (born December 9, 1954 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch football coach, and a former professional player. He is currently the manager of Ajax Amsterdam. In the 2005/2006 season, he was a member of the technical staff at FC Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title. Previously Ten Cate was successful in the Eredivisie as manager of Sparta Rotterdam, Vitesse Arnhem and NAC Breda. With Sparta he won the KNVB Cup in 1996, …
- Willem Breuker
Willem Breuker (b. Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 4, 1944) is a Dutch jazz bandleader, composer, arranger, saxophonist, and bass clarinetist. In 1967, with percussionist Han Bennink and pianist Misha Mengelberg, he co-founded the Instant Composers Pool (ICP), with whom he regularly performed until 1973. He was a member of the Globe Unity Orchestra and the Gunter Hampel Group. Since 1974 he has led the 10-piece Willem Breuker Kollektief, …
- Jan de Vries
Jan Pieter Marie Laurens de Vries (born February 11, 1890 in Amsterdam — died July 23, 1964 in Utrecht) was a Dutch scholar of Germanic linguistics and Germanic mythology, ordinarius 1926 to 1945 at Leiden University. He was more than sympathetic to the Nazi movement, even with the invasion of the Netherlands, but his works seem to have been free from National Socialist ideology. De Vries remains one of the most respected figures in Germanic Philology, …
- Frits Bolkestein
Frits Bolkestein (The Netherlands) is Professor of Intellectual Foundations of Political Developments at the Universities of Leiden and Delft (NL). He is former Member of the European Commission for the Internal Market (1999-2004), former Dutch Minister of Defence, former Minister of Foreign Trade and former Director of Shell Chimie, Paris.
- Piet Keizer
Peter ("Piet") Johannes Keizer (born June 14 1943 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch professional football player. Having played 364 matches from 1961 to 1974, he's the fourth in number of matches played for Ajax Amsterdam. He was a left-wing striker. Piet Keizer and Johan Cruijff were known as the "royal pair", or "the starter and the finisher". Keizer excelled by his gift of not being noticed, but then striking with uncanny precision.
- Samuel Sarphati
"Samuel Sarphati" (1813-1866) was a Dutch physician and Amsterdam city planner. Sarphati's ancestors were Sephardim, Portuguese Jews who arrived in the Netherlands in the 17th century. While only middle-class, his parents were able to let him conduct a Latin school. At the age of 20, Sarphati started studying medicine in Leiden, which he finished with a promotion in 1839. During his work thereafter as a doctor in Amsterdam, …
- Urby Emanuelson
Urby Emanuelson (born June 16, 1986 in Amsterdam) is a Surinamese-Dutch footballer who plays left back for Ajax Amsterdam and the Netherlands U-21 team.
- Alex van Halen
Alexander Arthur Van Halen (born on May 8, 1953) is a drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, along with his brother Eddie Van Halen who plays lead guitar and keyboards.
- Co Adriaanse
Jacobson ("Co") Adriaanse (born on July 21, 1947 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a former football player from the Netherlands, and a former manager of Portuguese side FC Porto after leading AZ Alkmaar to the 2005 UEFA Cup semi-finals. As a professional player, Adriaanse played for six seasons with De Volewijckers (from 1964 until 1970) and further six with FC Utrecht (1970 until 1976), retiring from football at the age of 29.
- Johan van der Keuken
Johan van der Keuken (4 April 1938, Amsterdam - 7 January 2001, Amsterdam) was a Dutch documentary filmmaker, author, and photographer. In a career that spans 42 years, Keuken produced 55 documentary films, six of which bagged eight awards. He also wrote nine books on photography and films, his field of interest. For all his efforts, he received seven awards for his life work, and one other for photography.