51.9225° N, 4.4793° E

ROTTERDAM

Most Famous People Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Notable people
1,222
Peak decade
1980s
Median birth year
1938
Most distinctive
Swimmer 5.9×

The port-city blend: a theologian index of 2.7× that starts with Erasmus and never quite stops, a mathematician footprint in the Dijkstra tradition, and a painter lineage running from Willem de Kooning back through four centuries of Dutch light. The swimmer, rower, and boxer over-indexes are a different Rotterdam entirely — the concrete port city rebuilt after the 1940 Blitz, not the medieval town that didn't survive it.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Rotterdam during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1980s with 132 notable births.

What Rotterdam Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Football is Rotterdam's biggest profession — 24% of all notables (290).

Rotterdam over-indexes on swimmer5.9× the global rate.

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

  1. Football290
  2. Painter90
  3. Politician89
  4. Actor41
  5. Swimmer35
  6. Singer33
  7. Writer31
  8. Sport25
  1. Swimmer355.9×
  2. Painter902.8×
  3. Theologian122.7×
  4. Rower122.7×
  5. Boxer122.5×
  6. Football2902.2×
  7. Mathematician132.1×
  8. Sculptor131.6×
  1. Politician890.6×
  2. Actor410.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

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

1550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Art & Design
  • Politics & Law
  • Science
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Other
All1,222
Sort By

1,222 notable people

0301 ECONOMIST

Koos Andriessen

1928 - 2019

Preview
0302 SINGER

Nelson Freitas

-

Preview
0303 FOOTBALL

Tyrell Malacia

Born 1999

Preview
0304 FOOTBALL

Mike Snoei

Born 1963

Preview
0305 ROWER

Koos Maasdijk

Born 1968

Preview
0306 ARTIST

Jean-Marc van Tol

Born 1967

Preview
0307 RAPPER

E-Life

-

Preview
0308 FOOTBALL

Kevin Wattamaleo

Born 1989

Preview
0309 MARINE

Mauritz de Haas

1832 - 1895

Preview
0310 POLITICIAN

Benk Korthals

Born 1944

Preview
0311 FOOTBALL

Henk van Stee

Born 1961

Preview
0312 FOOTBALL

Soufiane Touzani

Born 1986

Preview
0313 FOOTBALL

Ber Groosjohan

1897 - 1971

Preview
0314 FOOTBALL

Sheila van den Bulk

Born 1989

Preview
0315 LINGUIST

Johannes Hendricus van der Palm

1763 - 1840

Preview
0316 GEOLOGIST

Jean Jacques Dozy

1908 - 2004

Preview
0317 FILM

Mijke de Jong

Born 1959

Preview
0318 FOOTBALL

Giovanni Franken

Born 1977

Preview
0319 FENCER

Saskia Loretta van Erven Garcia

Born 1987

Preview
0320 ACTOR

Ramsey Nasr

Born 1974

Preview
0321 FOOTBALL

Jeffrey Rijsdijk

Born 1987

Preview
0322 SINGER

Leonie Meijer

Born 1985

Preview
0323 FOOTBALL

Cecílio Lopes

Born 1979

Preview
0324 MATHEMATICIAN

Jan Jansz de Jonge Stampioen

1610 - 1653

Preview
0325 FOOTBALL

Jan Everse

Born 1954

Preview
0326 THEOLOGIAN

Jan Jacob van Oosterzee

1817 - 1882

Preview
0327 SWIMMER

Johannes Drost

1880 - 1954

Preview
0328 RAPPER

Remon Stotijn

Born 1975

Preview
0329 FOOTBALL

Manus Vrauwdeunt

1915 - 1982

Preview
0330 DIPLOMAT

Pieter Feith

Born 1945

Preview
0331 ACTOR

Heintje Davids

1888 - 1975

Preview
0332 LOGICIAN

Leon van der Torre

Born 1968

Preview
0333 FOOTBALL

Lassana Faye

Born 1998

Preview
0334 FOOTBALL

Doriano Kortstam

Born 1994

Preview
0335 HISTORIAN

Isaac Lipschits

1930 - 2008

Preview
0336 SCULPTOR

Jan Snoeck

1927 - 2018

Preview
0337 POLITICIAN

Carel Polak

1909 - 1981

Preview
0338 WRITER

Mary Louisa Molesworth

1839 - 1921

Preview
0339 FOOTBALL

Gino Bosz

Born 1993

Preview
0340 TYPOGRAPHER

Gerrit Noordzij

Born 1931

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0341 POET

Johannes Nolet de Brauwere van Steeland

1815 - 1888

Preview
0342 POLITICIAN

Vicky Maeijer

Born 1986

Preview
0343 PAINTER

Frans Oerder

1867 - 1944

Preview
0344 FOOTBALL

Huug de Groot

1890 - 1957

Preview
0345 ADMIRAL

Cornelis Matelief de Jonge

1570 - 1632

Preview
0346 WORLD WAR

Sidney J. van den Bergh

1898 - 1977

Preview
0347 ACTOR

Jeroen Spitzenberger

Born 1976

Preview
0348 FOOTBALL

Jeffrey Altheer

Born 1987

Preview
0349 FOOTBALL

Rodney Kongolo

Born 1998

Preview
0350 MISSIONARY

Robert Junius

1606 - 1655

Preview
0351 POLITICIAN

Ina Brouwer

Born 1950

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0352 LAWYER

André Donner

1918 - 1992

Preview
0353 SINGER

Daan Schuurmans

Born 1972

Preview
0354 POLITICIAN

Gerard Helders

1905 - 2013

Preview
0355 PAINTER

Charles Rochussen

1814 - 1894

Preview
0356 FOOTBALL

Henk Duut

Born 1964

Preview
0357 FOOTBALL

Thomas Verhaar

Born 1988

Preview
0358 WRITER

Beb Vuyk

1905 - 1991

Preview
0359 SINGER

Solex (musician)

Born 1965

Preview
0360 POLITICIAN

Astrid Oosenbrug

Born 1968

Preview
0361 FOOTBALL

Adnan Alisic

Born 1984

Preview
0362 PHYSICIAN

Daniel de Superville (1696–1773)

1696 - 1773

Preview
0363 POLITICIAN

Roelf de Boer

Born 1949

Preview
0364 MATHEMATICIAN

Adriaan Cornelis Zaanen

1913 - 2003

Preview
0365 FOOTBALL

Nathan Rutjes

Born 1983

Preview
0366 SPORT

Taco van der Hoorn

Born 1993

Preview
0367 FOOTBALL

Ab Fafié

1941 - 2012

Preview
0368 MILITAR

Jan van Brakel

1638 - 1690

Preview
0369 PAINTER

Jacob Adriaensz Bellevois

1621 - 1676

Preview
0370 FOOTBALL

Alvin Fortes

Born 1994

Preview
0371 SINGER

Franklin Brown

Born 1961

Preview
0372 CHEMIST

Dirk Willem van Krevelen

1914 - 2001

Preview
0373 POLITICIAN

Adriaan Dijxhoorn

1889 - 1953

Preview
0374 ATHLETIC

Rinus van den Berge

1900 - 1972

Preview
0375 CONDUCTOR

Hans Kindler

1892 - 1949

Preview
0376 FOOTBALL

Tinus Bosselaar

1936 - 2018

Preview
0377 PAINTER

Cornelis Beelt

1640 - 1702

Preview
0378 POLITICIAN

Martin van Rijn

Born 1956

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0379 WRITER

Piet Bakker (writer)

1897 - 1960

Preview
0380 FOOTBALL

Dogucan Haspolat

Born 2000

Preview
0381 FOOTBALL

Wim Lagendaal

1909 - 1987

Preview
0382 PAINTER

Dirk Langendijk

1748 - 1805

Preview
0383 MUSIC

Phia Berghout

1909 - 1993

Preview
0384 FOOTBALL

Deroy Duarte

Born 1999

Preview
0385 NAVY

Aert Jansse van Nes

1626 - 1693

Preview
0386 PAINTER

Dick Elffers

1910 - 1990

Preview
0387 ACTOR

Sanne Langelaar

Born 1984

Preview
0388 COMPOSER

Tony Overwater

Born 1964

Preview
0389 POLITICIAN

Lousewies van der Laan

Born 1966

Preview
0390 DRIVER

Nigel Melker

Born 1991

Preview
0391 FOOTBALL

Daaf Drok

1914 - 2002

Preview
0392 SCULPTOR

Han Hoogerbrugge

Born 1963

Preview
0393 ACTOR

Hans Kesting

Born 1960

Preview
0394 FOOTBALL

Jan van der Sluis

1889 - 1952

Preview
0395 SPORT

John den Braber

Born 1970

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0396 PAINTER

Hendrik Kobell

1751 - 1799

Preview
0397 POLITICIAN

Johan Gijsbert Verstolk van Soelen

1776 - 1845

Preview
0398 ACTOR

Elise Schaap

Born 1982

Preview
0399 SCULPTOR

Per Abramsen

1941 - 2018

Preview
0400 COLLECTOR

Han Nefkens

Born 1954

Preview
0401 SINGER

Yvonne Keeley

Born 1952

Preview
0402 FOOTBALL

Jurgen Mattheij

Born 1993

Preview
0403 POLITICIAN

Jacques Monasch

Born 1962

Preview
0404 SINGER

Maxine (Sängerin)

Born 1970

Preview
0405 COXSWAIN

Anne Schellekens

Born 1986

Preview
0406 FOOTBALL

Marlon Pereira Freire

Born 1987

Preview
0407 ORGANIST

Gerard Bunk

1888 - 1958

Preview
0408 FOOTBALL

Hans Verèl

1953 - 2019

Preview
0409 BOTANIST

Roelof Benjamin van den Bosch

1810 - 1862

Preview
0410 PAINTER

Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker

1618 - 1709

Preview
0411 SWIMMER

Marie Baron

1908 - 1948

Preview
0412 PAINTER

Anthony Thieme

1888 - 1954

Preview
0413 FOOTBALL

Henk Steeman

1894 - 1979

Preview
0414 BOTANIST

Simon Jan van Ooststroom

1906 - 1982

Preview
0415 FOOTBALL

Robert Verbeek

Born 1961

Preview
0416 CHESS

Catharina Roodzant

1896 - 1999

Preview
0417 PAINTER

Gerrit Battem

1636 - 1684

Preview
0418 DRAUGHTS

Piet Roozenburg

1924 - 2003

Preview
0419 WRITER

Richard Twiss (writer)

1747 - 1821

Preview
0420 ATHLETIC

Robert Lathouwers

Born 1983

Preview
0421 PAINTER

Adriaen Hendriksz Verboom

1627 - 1673

Preview
0422 HISTORIAN

Ernst Kossmann

1922 - 2003

Preview
0423 BOTANIST

Cornelis Bas

1928 - 2013

Preview
0424 FOOTBALL

Ilias Alhaft

Born 1997

Preview
0425 PATRIOT

Catharina Mulder

1723 - 1798

Preview
0426 MUSIC

Piet Noordijk

1932 - 2011

Preview
0427 POLITICIAN

Paul Zimmerman (politician)

Born 1958

Preview
0428 ENTREPRENEUR

Gerard Endenburg

Born 1933

Preview
0429 PIANIST

Elisabeth Caland

1862 - 1929

Preview
0430 FOOTBALL

Danilho Doekhi

Born 1996

Preview
0431 PAINTER

Adam Colonia

1634 - 1685

Preview
0432 SWIMMER

Martijn Zuijdweg

Born 1976

Preview
0433 ARTIST

Paul Teng

Born 1955

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0434 GUITAR

Jan Dumée

Born 1965

Preview
0435 POLITICIAN

Nicolas-Jean Rouppe

1769 - 1838

Preview
0436 FOOTBALL

Mark van den Boogaart

Born 1985

Preview
0437 POLITICIAN

Philip Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt

1743 - 1826

Preview
0438 ATHLETIC

Ingmar Vos

Born 1986

Preview
0439 SWIMMER

Marianne Heemskerk

Born 1944

Preview
0440 THEOLOGIAN

Heleen Dupuis

Born 1945

Preview
0441 FOOTBALL

Aad Bak

1926 - 2009

Preview
0442 SWIMMER

Lennart Stekelenburg

Born 1986

Preview
0443 THEOLOGIAN

Theodoor Willem Johannes Juynboll

1802 - 1861

Preview
0444 PAINTER

Abraham van Westerveld

1620 - 1692

Preview
0445 FOOTBALL

Shaquille Pinas

Born 1998

Preview
0446 FOOTBALL

William Paats

1876 - 1946

Preview
0447 PLAYER

Petra Kamstra

Born 1974

Preview
0448 POLITICIAN

Roald van der Linde

Born 1968

Preview
0449 PHOTOGRAPHER

Nico Jesse

1911 - 1976

Preview
0450 SWIMMER

Madelon Baans

Born 1977

Preview
0451 POLITICIAN

Til Gardeniers-Berendsen

1925 - 2019

Preview
0452 THEOLOGIAN

Jean Réville

1854 - 1908

Preview
0453 POLITICIAN

Alexander Gillon

1741 - 1794

Preview
0454 COMPOSER

Auguste van Biene

1849 - 1913

Preview
0455 FOOTBALL

Wim Landman

1921 - 1975

Preview
0456 HISTORIAN

H. J. de Graaf

1899 - 1984

Preview
0457 FOOTBALL

Tonny van Ede

1924 - 2011

Preview
0458 FOOTBALL

Remco Boere

Born 1961

Preview
0459 CRIMINAL

Betje Wery

1920 - 2006

Preview
0460 PAINTER

Cornelis Brouwer

1634 - 1681

Preview
0461 POLITICIAN

Frans Jozef van der Heijden

1938 - 2016

Preview
0462 FOOTBALL

Piet den Boer

Born 1958

Preview
0463 FOOTBALL

Erik Cummins

Born 1988

Preview
0464 POLITICIAN

Ronald Sørensen

Born 1947

Preview
0465 PRESENTER

Bram van Erkel

Born 1932

Preview
0466 SKATER

Sanneke de Neeling

Born 1996

Preview
0467 FOOTBALL

Piet de Wolf

1921 - 2013

Preview
0468 DIPLOMAT

Pieter de Groot

1615 - 1678

Preview
0469 COMPOSER

Paul van Katwijk

1885 - 1974

Preview
0470 SINGER

Annie de Reuver

1917 - 2016

Preview
0471 PAINTER

François Verwilt

1620 - 1691

Preview
0472 SCULPTOR

Lambertus Zijl

1866 - 1947

Preview
0473 PRESENTER

Bert Nederlof

1946 - 2018

Preview
0474 ENTOMOLOGIST

Samuel Constantinus Snellen van Vollenhoven

1816 - 1880

Preview
0475 PHOTOGRAPHER

Hans Neleman

Born 1960

Preview
0476 FOOTBALL

Delano Hill

Born 1975

Preview
0477 PHILOSOPHER

Philip Willem van Heusde

1778 - 1839

Preview
0478 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Arjan Erkel

Born 1970

Preview
0479 FOOTBALL

Sergio Zijler

Born 1987

Preview
0480 WRITER

Jan Geurt Gaarlandt

Born 1946

Preview
0481 ENTREPRENEUR

Anton Kröller

1862 - 1941

Preview
0482 SINGER

Ziggi Recado

Born 1981

Preview
0483 BIOLOGIST

Adriaan Kortlandt

1918 - 2009

Preview
0484 POLITICIAN

Charles van Rooy

1912 - 1996

Preview
0485 POLITICIAN

Marnix van Rij

Born 1960

Preview
0486 FOOTBALL

Peter van den Berg

Born 1971

Preview
0487 MATHEMATICIAN

Laurens de Haan

Born 1937

Preview
0488 ORNITHOLOGIST

Antonie Augustus Bruijn

1842 - 1890

Preview
0489 POLITICIAN

Corinne Ellemeet

Born 1976

Preview
0490 WRITER

Chris van Abkoude

1880 - 1960

Preview
0491 PAINTER

Abraham Furnerius

1628 - 1654

Preview
0492 FOOTBALL

Lorenzo Piqué

Born 1990

Preview
0493 PAINTER

Phiny Dick

1912 - 1990

Preview
0494 HOCKEY

Tim Steens

Born 1955

Preview
0495 COMPOSER

Alexander Voormolen

1895 - 1980

Preview
0496 FOOTBALL

Jaap Barendregt

1905 - 1952

Preview
0497 PAINTER

Crijn Hendricksz Volmarijn

1601 - 1645

Preview
0498 POET

Joost van Geel

1631 - 1698

Preview
0499 ENTREPRENEUR

Alfred Haighton

1896 - 1943

Preview
0500 ARTIST

Wendelien van Oldenborgh

Born 1962

Preview
0501 PAINTER

Simon Moulijn

1866 - 1948

Preview
0502 PRESENTER

Hugo Borst

Born 1962

Preview
0503 ENGINEER

Quirinus Harder

1801 - 1880

Preview
0504 PAINTER

Jan Daemen Cool

1589 - 1660

Preview
0505 FOOTBALL

Sixten Mohlin

Born 1996

Preview
0506 FOOTBALL

Iwan Redan

Born 1980

Preview
0507 LAWYER

Peter van Walsum

1934 - 2019

Preview
0508 LITERARY

Pieter Steinz

1963 - 2016

Preview
0509 ACADEMIC

Johannes (Hans) van Oort

Born 1949

Preview
0510 POLITICIAN

Jo Schouwenaar-Franssen

1909 - 1995

Preview
0511 FEMINIST

Anna Sophia Polak

1874 - 1943

Preview
0512 PAINTER

Olivier van Deuren

1666 - 1714

Preview
0513 CHEMIST

Frits Böttcher

1915 - 2008

Preview
0514 GEOLOGIST

Nicolaas Adrianus Rupke

Born 1944

Preview
0515 OLYMPIC

Koos de Jong

1912 - 1993

Preview
0516 PRIEST

Petrus Matthias Snickers

1816 - 1895

Preview
0517 POLITICIAN

Louis Hymans

1829 - 1884

Preview
0518 COMPOSER

Dina Appeldoorn

1884 - 1938

Preview
0519 FOOTBALL

Elso Brito

Born 1994

Preview
0520 FOOTBALL

Kick van der Vall

Born 1946

Preview
0521 PAINTER

Pieter Jacobsz. Duyfhuysen

1608 - 1677

Preview
0522 FOOTBALL

Regillio Nooitmeer

Born 1983

Preview
0523 POLITICIAN

Wassila Hachchi

Born 1980

Preview
0524 PIANIST

Rembrandt Frerichs

Born 1977

Preview
0525 ACADEMIC

Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst

1916 - 2004

Preview
0526 FOOTBALL

Piet Steenbergen

1928 - 2010

Preview
0527 AIR FORCE

Willem den Toom

1911 - 1998

Preview
0528 WATERCOLOURIST

Henriette Willebeek le Mair

1889 - 1966

Preview
0529 FOOTBALL

Hans Venneker

Born 1945

Preview
0530 CHESS

Meindert Niemeijer

1902 - 1987

Preview
0531 CHESS

Iepe Rubingh

1974 - 2020

Preview
0532 HOCKEY

Jeroen Hertzberger

Born 1986

Preview
0533 HOCKEY

Marieke van Doorn

Born 1960

Preview
0534 HISTORIAN

Adolf Emile Cohen

1913 - 2004

Preview
0535 ARCHITECT

Michiel Brinkman

1873 - 1925

Preview
0536 JOCKEY

DJ Misjah

Born 1971

Preview
0537 WRITER

Bibi Dumon Tak

Born 1964

Preview
0538 PHYSICIAN

Don Poldermans

Born 1956

Preview
0539 FOOTBALL

Daniël Rijaard

Born 1976

Preview
0540 ACADEMIC

Jan van Bemmel

Born 1938

Preview
0541 FOOTBALL

Jordy van Deelen

Born 1993

Preview
0542 FOOTBALL

Jaap Weber

1901 - 1979

Preview
0543 PLAYER

Marianne van der Torre

Born 1961

Preview
0544 ARTIST

Wilbert Plijnaar

Born 1954

Preview
0545 POLITICIAN

Dirk Spierenburg

1909 - 2001

Preview
0546 LINGUIST

Adriaen Verwer

1655 - 1717

Preview
0547 PHOTOGRAPHER

Henri Berssenbrugge

1873 - 1959

Preview
0548 THEOLOGIAN

Frans Hendrik Breukelman

1916 - 1993

Preview
0549 THEATRE

Eric de Vroedt

Born 1972

Preview
0550 POLITICIAN

José María González Santos

Born 1975

Preview
0551 SINGER

Arno Menses

-

Preview
0552 SKIPPER

Daan Kagchelland

1914 - 1998

Preview
0553 COMPOSER

Dirk Schäfer

1873 - 1931

Preview
0554 JOURNALIST

Dominique Weesie

Born 1969

Preview
0555 PRODUCER

Johnny Hoes

1917 - 2011

Preview
0556 POLITICIAN

Johann Heinrich Adolf Logemann

1892 - 1969

Preview
0557 CONDUCTOR

Ian Mulder

Born 1963

Preview
0558 FOOTBALL

Willem Boerdam

1883 - 1966

Preview
0559 POLITICIAN

Hugo van Zuylen van Nijevelt

1781 - 1853

Preview
0560 LIBERAL

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg

1806 - 1887

Preview
0561 FOOTBALL

Stan Vanden Eynde

1909 - 1994

Preview
0562 SINGER

U-Niq

Born 1976

Preview
0563 RAPPER

Hef (rappeur)

Born 1987

Preview
0564 SWIMMER

Puck Oversloot

1914 - 2009

Preview
0565 FOOTBALL

Regilio Seedorf

Born 1988

Preview
0566 HISTORIAN

Willem den Boer

1914 - 1993

Preview
0567 ZOOLOGIST

Hugo Frederik Nierstrasz

1872 - 1937

Preview
0568 FOOTBALL

Laros Duarte

Born 1997

Preview
0569 COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Jaap van den Herik

Born 1947

Preview
0570 SWIMMER

Cocky Gastelaars

Born 1938

Preview
0571 ACTOR

Bob de Lange

1916 - 1978

Preview
0572 FENCER

Hendrik Scherpenhuijzen

1882 - 1971

Preview
0573 FOOTBALL

Gerard Kerkum

1930 - 2018

Preview
0574 PAINTER

Pieter Crijnse Volmarijn

1629 - 1679

Preview
0575 ACTOR

Baby Huwae

1939 - 1989

Preview
0576 WRITER

Elvin Post

Born 1973

Preview
0577 ACTOR

Louis Saalborn

1891 - 1957

Preview
0578 FOOTBALL

Juanito Sequeira

Born 1982

Preview
0579 WRITER

Andrea Kruis

Born 1962

Preview
0580 PROFESSOR

Cornelis van der Hoeven

1792 - 1871

Preview
0581 ARCHITECT

Jan Hoogstad

Born 1930

Preview
0582 POET

Willem Barnard

1920 - 2010

Preview
0583 NAVY

Johan de Liefde (admiral)

1619 - 1673

Preview
0584 GENEALOGIST

Cornelis Pama

1916 - 1994

Preview
0585 THEOLOGIAN

Johan Herman Bavinck

1895 - 1964

Preview
0586 GEOLOGIST

Tjeerd van Andel

1923 - 2010

Preview
0587 WRITER

Theo Kars

1940 - 2015

Preview
0588 FOOTBALL

Nol Heijerman

1940 - 2015

Preview
0589 PAINTER

Herman van den Anker

1832 - 1883

Preview
0590 SINGER

Johnny Young

Born 1947

Preview
0591 ACTOR

Jade Olieberg

Born 1993

Preview
0592 COMPOSER

Willem de Haan

1849 - 1930

Preview
0593 HOCKEY

Seve van Ass

Born 1992

Preview
0594 WRITER

Sanneke van Hassel

Born 1971

Preview
0595 JOCKEY

Misja Helsloot

Born 1973

Preview
0596 SWIMMER

Betty Heukels

Born 1942

Preview
0597 MERCHANT

Isaack Gilsemans

1606 - 1646

Preview
0598 MATHEMATICIAN

Tom H. Koornwinder

Born 1943

Preview
0599 WRITER

Marianne Vogel

Born 1958

Preview
0600 SKI

Wendy Vuik

Born 1988

Preview