52.3831° N, 4.8999° E

AMSTERDAM

Most Famous People Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Notable people
3,253
Peak decade
1980s
Median birth year
1921
Most distinctive
Rower 4.9×

The Dutch Golden Age, and what came after. Amsterdam's distinctive shelves are painters at more than four times the global rate, alongside conductors, rowers, swimmers, and poets — the trades of a 17th-century capital that built one of the great European art markets and a 20th-century city that built a Concertgebouw conductor lineage going back to Mengelberg. The 1600s account for a tenth of all notable births here, and the modern half adds footballers, cyclists, and the long shadow of Rembrandt and Spinoza.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Amsterdam during each.

What Amsterdam Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Football is Amsterdam's biggest profession — 13% of all notables (438).

Amsterdam over-indexes on rower4.9× the global rate.

Amsterdam under-produces politician — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Football438
  2. Painter372
  3. Politician212
  4. Actor166
  5. Writer106
  6. Poet72
  7. Singer67
  8. Sport67
  1. Rower594.9×
  2. Conductor384.6×
  3. Painter3724.3×
  4. Swimmer533.4×
  5. Poet722.1×
  6. Mathematician342.1×
  1. Politician2120.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Amsterdam's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

15001550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Art & Design
  • Writing
  • Film & TV
  • Science
  • Politics & Law
  • Other
All3,253
Sort By

Showing 153 of 3,253 notable people

0009 CHESS

Max Euwe

1901 - 1981

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0010 POLITICIAN

Hendrik Verwoerd

1901 - 1966

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0071 MATHEMATICIAN

Bartel Leendert van der Waerden

1903 - 1996

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0101 PAINTER

Carel Willink

1900 - 1983

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0200 LINGUIST

Hendrik Brugmans

1906 - 1997

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0208 BANK

Walraven van Hall

1906 - 1945

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0211 CONDUCTOR

Frieda Belinfante

1904 - 1995

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0250 ACTOR

Philip Van Zandt

1904 - 1958

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0270 COMPOSER

Leo Smit (Dutch composer)

1900 - 1943

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0297 SCULPTOR

Gerrit van der Veen

1902 - 1944

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0300 CRIMINAL

Dries Riphagen

1909 - 1973

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0347 CRIMINAL

Ans van Dijk

1905 - 1948

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0400 PAINTER

César Domela

1900 - 1992

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0433 RESISTANCE

Jan Gies

1905 - 1993

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0482 ACTOR

Lien Deyers

1909 - 1982

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0488 MATHEMATICIAN

David van Dantzig

1900 - 1959

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0509 FOOTBALL

Wim Anderiesen

1903 - 1944

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0583 CULTURE-CORE

Simon Spoor

1902 - 1949

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0600 GYMNAST

Estella Agsteribbe

1909 - 1943

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0610 ACTOR

Lily Bouwmeester

1901 - 1993

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0612 FOOTBALL

Gejus van der Meulen

1903 - 1972

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0640 SWIMMER

Gérard Blitz (swimmer)

1901 - 1979

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0662 THEOLOGIAN

Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer

1903 - 1996

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0710 GYMNAST

Helena Nordheim

1903 - 1943

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0713 GYMNAST

Anna Dresden-Polak

1906 - 1943

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0722 CHEMIST

Carolina Henriette MacGillavry

1904 - 1993

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0731 NEWS PRESENTER

Frits Thors

1909 - 2014

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0740 POLITICIAN

Gijs van Hall

1904 - 1977

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0765 OFFICER

Peter Churchill

1909 - 1972

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0768 GYMNAST

Elka de Levie

1905 - 1979

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0775 PAINTER

Kees Verwey

1900 - 1995

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0914 FOOTBALL

Dolf van Kol

1902 - 1989

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0915 POLITICIAN

Ko Suurhoff

1905 - 1967

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0927 POLITICIAN

Frans Goedhart

1904 - 1990

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0971 BOTANIST

Joseph Lanjouw

1902 - 1984

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0973 MATHEMATICIAN

Gerrit Bol

1906 - 1989

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1015 CYCLIST

Jaap Meijer

1905 - 1943

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1029 SPORT

Ko Willems

1900 - 1983

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1043 ACADEMIC

Annie Nicolette Zadoks Josephus Jitta

1904 - 2000

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1080 POLITICIAN

Jan van Aartsen

1909 - 1992

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1088 GYMNAST

Alida van den Bos

1902 - 2003

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1124 CHEMIST

Evert Verwey

1905 - 1981

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1128 BOXER

Karel Miljon

1903 - 1984

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1142 FILM

Charles Huguenot van der Linden

1909 - 1987

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1178 PHYSICIST

Cornelis Bakker

1904 - 1960

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1208 HOUSEWIFE

Kate ter Horst

1906 - 1992

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1234 LITERARY

Barthold Fles

1902 - 1989

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1256 PAINTER

Kristians Tonny

1907 - 1977

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1289 POET

Rosey E. Pool

1905 - 1971

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1319 SOCIOLOGIST

Fred Polak

1907 - 1985

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1324 FILM

Helen van Dongen

1909 - 2006

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1346 ROWER

Willy Rösingh

1900 - 1976

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1405 MISSING

Bet van Beeren

1902 - 1967

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1410 SCULPTOR

Gerrit Bolhuis

1907 - 1975

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1456 ACADEMIC

Elizabeth Visser

1908 - 1987

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1498 PHOTOGRAPHER

Maria Antonia Merkelbach

1904 - 1985

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1517 DESIGNER

Fré Cohen

1903 - 1943

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1560 HOCKEY

Rein de Waal

1904 - 1985

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1592 POLITICIAN

Henk Hofstra

1904 - 1999

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1638 ACTOR

Darja Collin

1902 - 1967

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1650 EQUESTRIAN

Johan Greter

1900 - 1975

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1712 PHOTOGRAPHER

Aart Klein

1909 - 2001

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1744 POET

Nico de Haas

1907 - 2000

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1745 BANDLEADER

Peter van Steeden

1904 - 1990

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1780 BIOLOGIST

Maurits Anne Lieftinck

1904 - 1985

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1798 HOCKEY

Jan Brand (field hockey)

1908 - 1969

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1799 ACTOR

Loudi Nijhoff

1900 - 1995

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1800 ACADEMIC

Gérard Wiarda

1906 - 1988

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1838 ATHLETE

Jan Blankers

1904 - 1977

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1840 CONDUCTOR

Pi Scheffer

1909 - 1988

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1853 FENCER

Frans Mosman

1904 - 1994

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1866 POLITICIAN

Pieter Muntendam

1901 - 1986

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1877 ACADEMIC

G. I. Lieftinck

1902 - 1994

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1886 BOXER

Sam Olij

1900 - 1975

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1887 MISSING

Hendrik Johan Kruls

1902 - 1975

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1941 POLITICIAN

Albert Beerman

1901 - 1967

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1966 PRIEST

Theodorus Zwartkruis

1909 - 1983

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1980 WATERCOLOURIST

Nans van Leeuwen

1900 - 1995

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1998 COMPOSER

Emmy Wegener

1901 - 1973

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2030 SAILOR

Eddy Stutterheim

1908 - 1977

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2061 POLITICIAN

Isaäc Nicolaas Theodoor Diepenhorst

1907 - 1976

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2128 PAINTER

Albert Houthuesen

1903 - 1979

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2181 AUTHOR

Sam Waagenaar

1908 - 1976

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2202 HOCKEY

Adriaan Katte

1900 - 1991

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2214 POLITICIAN

Jan Baars

1903 - 1989

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2251 COMPOSER

Ina Lohr

1903 - 1983

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2257 BIOLOGIST

Ernst Frederik Jacobi

1908 - 1994

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2296 FENCER

Johanna de Boer

1901 - 1984

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2341 LUFTRENNEN

Koene Dirk Parmentier

1904 - 1948

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2355 LEPIDOPTERIST

Barend J. Lempke

1901 - 1993

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2363 ACTOR

Jan Willem Hofstra

1907 - 1991

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2461 SPORT

Ben Duijker

1903 - 1990

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2476 NAVY

Huibert Quispel

1906 - 1995

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2500 SAILOR

Kees Jonker

1909 - 1987

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2508 ACADEMIC

Louis Kukenheim

1905 - 1972

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2509 SPORT

Simon van Poelgeest

1900 - 1978

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2524 SPORT

Martinus Vlietman

1900 - 1970

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2535 SPORT

Pieter Beets

1900 - 1996

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2545 ENTREPRENEUR

Pieter Schelte Heerema

1908 - 1981

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2567 BOTANIST

Frans Verdoorn

1906 - 1984

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2586 FLYING ACE

Walter Churchill

1907 - 1942

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2605 BOOKSELLER

Friedrich Knolle (Gaukulturwart)

1903 - 1977

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2622 FENCER

Doris de Jong

1902 - 1991

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2636 COLLECTIONNEUR

Cornelis Helling

1901 - 1995

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2643 CONDUCTOR

Felix Raabe

1900 - 1996

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2647 ECONOMIST

Jacobus Franciscus Haccoû

1903 - 1972

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2651 MISSING

Wim Henneicke

1909 - 1944

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2660 FENCER

Paul Kunze

1904 - 1983

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2680 ATHLETIC

Jan Zeegers

1902 - 1978

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2686 SWIMMER

Rie Beisenherz

1901 - 1992

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2698 ACADEMIC

Johan Dankmeijer

1907 - 1973

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2699 TRANSLATOR

George Fles

1908 - 1936

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2701 SWIMMER

Sjaak Köhler

1902 - 1970

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2718 BOXER

Henk de Best

1905 - 1978

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2722 SWIMMER

Aart van Wilgenburg

1902 - 1955

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2725 ACADEMIC

Sarah Bavly

1900 - 1993

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2726 SAILOR

Herman Looman

1907 - 1989

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2727 MYCOLOGIST

Agathe L. van Beverwijk

1907 - 1963

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2736 SAILOR

Carl Huisken

1902 - 1987

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2787 WRITER

Ton Koot

1907 - 1986

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2805 SWIMMER

Pieter Jacobszoon

1903 - 1972

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2845 FOOTBALL

Henri Baaij

1900 - 1943

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2860 SWIMMER

Alida Bolten

1903 - 1984

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2861 MISSING

Willem Briedé

1903 - 1962

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2874 THEOLOGIAN

G.P. van Itterzon

1900 - 1992

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2876 ROWER

Jan Huges

1904 - 1986

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2878 ATHLETIC

Wilhelm Hennings

1905 - 1991

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2880 ROWER

Jo Brandsma

1900 - 1973

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2893 ATHLETIC

Anton Toscani

1901 - 1984

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2901 SPORT

Albertus de Graaf

1907 - 1989

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2913 ROWER

Robbert Blaisse

1900 - 1959

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2930 ATHLETIC

Willem van der Steen

1905 - 1983

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2952 SPORT

Gert van den Berg (cyclist)

Born 1903

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2967 BOXER

Ted Zegwaard

Born 1903

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2969 ATHLETIC

Dolf Benz

1908 - 1988

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2982 WRITER

Carla Simons

1903 - 1943

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2995 ATHLETIC

Lau Spel

1900 - 1979

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2997 ATHLETIC

Wim Kat

1904 - 1990

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3006 ATHLETIC

Gien de Kock

1908 - 1998

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3009 ATHLETIC

Wim Bolten

1901 - 1971

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3014 POLO

Koos Köhler

1905 - 1965

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3021 CHEMIST

Henri Bernard Beer

1909 - 1994

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3039 ACADEMIC

Marcus de Jong

1901 - 1969

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3051 ATHLETIC

Guus Zeegers

1906 - 1978

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3053 SWIMMER

Henk van Essen

1909 - 1968

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3063 ATHLETIC

Pieter Gerbrands

1909 - 1962

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3069 CHEMIST

Antoine J. A. van der Wyk

1902 - 1976

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3144 ARCHITECT

Susan Hendrik van Sitteren

1904 - 1968

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3148 JOURNALIST

Jaap Nunes Vaz

1906 - 1943

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3151 PLAYER

Jan van der Heide

1908 - 1959

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3175 CONDUCTOR

Salomon Abas

1900 - 1943

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3178 WRESTLER

Wilhelmus Doll

1900 - 1980

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3205 ZOOLOGIST

Jentina E. Leene

1906 - 1994

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