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100 Notable alumni of University of Groningen

Updated: June 23, 2026 EliteDegrees

University of Groningen is ranked #118 in the world and #3 in Netherlands by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from University of Groningen sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Groningen won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.

Agnes Wolbert

1. Agnes Wolbert

1958-2025 (aged 67)
politician
Agnes Geziena Wolbert was a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid) she was an MP between 30 November 2006 and 23 March 2017. She focused on matters of senior citizen policy, normal and special health care, and home care.
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Turtle Bunbury

2. Turtle Bunbury

1972-. (aged 54)
historian writer
James Alexander Hugh McClintock Bunbury, known as Turtle Bunbury, is an Irish author, historian, and television presenter. He has published a number of books such as the Vanishing Ireland series, Ireland's Forgotten Past, Easter Dawn -The 1916 Rising, The Glorious Madness (short-listed for Best Irish-published Book of the Year 2014) and 1847 – A Chronicle of Genius, Generosity & Savagery.
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Alexander Italianer

3. Alexander Italianer

1956-. (aged 70)
civil servant
Alexander Italianer is a retired European civil servant from the Netherlands who served as Secretary-General of the European Commission from 2015 to 2018.
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Clemens Maria Franz von Bönninghausen

4. Clemens Maria Franz von Bönninghausen

1785-1864 (aged 79)
physician economist botanist homeopath
Clemens Maria Franz Freiherr (Baron) von Bönninghausen (Herinckhave near Fleringen, 12 March 1785 – Münster, 26 January 1864) was a lawyer, Dutch and Prussian civil servant, agriculturalist, botanist, physician and pioneer in the field of homeopathy.
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Martinus van Marum

5. Martinus van Marum

1750-1837 (aged 87)
physicist chemist botanist curator naturalist
Martin van Marum ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑrtɪɱ vɑ ˈmaːrʏm]; 20 March 1750 – 26 December 1837) was a Dutch physician, inventor, scientist and teacher, who studied medicine and philosophy in Groningen. Van Marum introduced modern chemistry in the Netherlands after the theories of Antoine Lavoisier, and several scientific applications for general use. He became famous for his demonstrations with instruments,...
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Hendrik de Cock

6. Hendrik de Cock

1801-1842 (aged 41)
theologian
Hendrik de Cock was a Dutch minister responsible for the 1834–35 Dutch Reformed Church split due to his incarceration and suspension from office for his Calvinist convictions.
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Bas Eenhoorn

7. Bas Eenhoorn

1946-. (aged 80)
geographer politician
Herman Bastiaan "Bas" Eenhoorn is a Dutch politician and management consultant. A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he was party chair from 1999 until 2003.
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Hanneke van der Werf

8. Hanneke van der Werf

1984-. (aged 42)
politician
Johanna Jantina "Hanneke" van der Werf is a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66). She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2021. She previously held a seat in the municipal council of The Hague (2014–2021) and worked for the D66 caucus in the House of Representatives (2010–2018).
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S. Olvah Alhamid

9. S. Olvah Alhamid

1990-. (aged 36)
model politician
Syarifah Olvah Bwefar Alhamid, better known as S. Olvah Alhamid is an Indonesian model from Kaimana Regency and became the first Papuan women who won the title of Puteri Indonesia Perdamaian, precisely at the beauty pageant of Puteri Indonesia 2015. For her victory in the Top 5 Puteri Indonesia 2015, Olvah then appointed by the Puteri Indonesia Foundation to represent...
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Betty de Boer

10. Betty de Boer

1971-. (aged 55)
politician
Bregtje Grietje "Betty" de Boer is a Dutch politician and former management consultant and civil servant. As a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) she was an MP between 17 June 2010 and 23 March 2017. She focused on matters of housing.
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Bart Bok

11. Bart Bok

1906-1983 (aged 77)
astronomer
Bartholomeus Jan "Bart" Bok was a Dutch-American astronomer, teacher, and lecturer. He is best known for his work on the structure and evolution of the Milky Way galaxy, and for the discovery of Bok globules, which are small, densely dark clouds of interstellar gas and dust that can be seen silhouetted against brighter backgrounds. Bok suggested that these globules may...
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Wietse Venema

12. Wietse Venema

1951-. (aged 75)
computer scientist programmer physicist
Wietse Zweitze Venema is a Dutch programmer and physicist best known for writing the Postfix email system. He also wrote TCP Wrapper and collaborated with Dan Farmer to produce the computer security tools SATAN and The Coroner's Toolkit.
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Heinrich Kuhl

13. Heinrich Kuhl

1797-1821 (aged 24)
scientific collector entomologist botanist naturalist traveler
Heinrich Kuhl was a German naturalist and zoologist.
Peter van de Kamp

14. Peter van de Kamp

1901-1995 (aged 94)
university teacher astronomer
Piet van de Kamp was a Dutch astronomer. Known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States he lived most of his life in that country. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972. He specialized in astrometry, studying parallax and proper motions of stars. He came to...
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Bert Bos

15. Bert Bos

1963-. (aged 63)
computer scientist inventor
Gijsbert Bos (born 1963) is a Dutch computer scientist known for the development of Argo, a web browser he developed as test application for his style sheet proposal.
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W. R. van Hoëvell

16. W. R. van Hoëvell

1812-1879 (aged 67)
judge writer politician
Wolter Robert Baron van Hoëvell was a Dutch minister, politician, reformer, and writer. Born into nobility and trained in the Dutch Reformed Church, he worked for eleven years as a minister in the Dutch East Indies. He led a Malay-speaking congregation, engaged in scholarly research and cultural activities, and became an outspoken critic of Dutch colonialism. His activism culminated when...
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Linda Voortman

17. Linda Voortman

1979-. (aged 47)
trade unionist politician
Linda Voortman is a Dutch politician and former trade unionist. Representing GreenLeft, she was a Dutch member of parliament between 2010 and 2018 with interruptions. Since 7 June 2018, she has been an alderwoman of Utrecht.
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Alexander de Savornin Lohman

18. Alexander de Savornin Lohman

1837-1924 (aged 87)
politician university teacher lawyer judge journalist
Jhr. Alexander Frederik de Savornin Lohman was a Dutch politician and leader of the Christian Historical Union during the first quarter of the 20th century.
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Marieke Nijkamp

19. Marieke Nijkamp

writer children's writer
Marieke Nijkamp is a Dutch author of young adult fiction. Her novel This is Where It Ends was a New York Times bestseller.
Paul de Krom

20. Paul de Krom

1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Paul de Krom is a Dutch business executive and former politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He has been CEO and Chairman of the Organisation for Applied Scientific Research from March 2015 till February 2022, and CEO and Chairman of the Energy Research Centre since 1 April 2018. He has also served as Chairman of the...
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Joop Atsma

21. Joop Atsma

1956-. (aged 70)
journalist sport cyclist columnist politician
Johannes Jan "Joop" Atsma is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and sport administrator. He was a member of the Senate since between 9 June 2015 and 12 June 2023.
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Zurab Adeishvili

22. Zurab Adeishvili

1972-. (aged 54)
lawyer official attorney general politician
Zurab Adeishvili is a Georgian lawyer and politician, serving as the Minister of Justice of Georgia from November 2008 to October 2012.
Bernard Lievegoed

23. Bernard Lievegoed

1905-1992 (aged 87)
writer psychiatrist economist university teacher
Bernardus Cornelis Johannes Lievegoed was a Dutch medical doctor, psychiatrist and author. He is most famous for establishing a theory of organizational development. He founded the N.P.I., or Netherlands Pedagogical Institute, which works with organizations and individuals to help these realize their economic, social and cultural goals. He also founded the Vrije Hogeschool in Driebergen.
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Fred de Graaf

24. Fred de Graaf

1950-. (aged 76)
jurist lawyer politician
Godefridus Jan "Fred" de Graaf is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist.
René Paas

25. René Paas

1966-. (aged 60)
trade unionist politician
Frederik Johannes "René" Paas is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal. He was chairman of the Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond from 2005 to 2009. He has been the King's Commissioner in the province of Groningen since 18 April 2016.
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Samuel van Houten

26. Samuel van Houten

1837-1930 (aged 93)
jurist politician
Samuel van Houten was a Dutch liberal politician, who served as Minister of the Interior from 1894 to 1897.
Tjibbe Joustra

27. Tjibbe Joustra

1951-. (aged 75)
diplomat
Tjibbe Herman Jan Joustra is a Dutch civil servant. He is chairman of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies (Dutch: Vereniging Particuliere Beveiligingsorganisaties en recherchebureaus (VPB)) and of the horticultural association (Dutch: Productschap Tuinbouw). He is the former chairman of the board of the UWV and the former National Antiterrorism Coordinator. Joustra is a former member of...
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Sietse Fritsma

28. Sietse Fritsma

1972-. (aged 54)
geographer politician
Sietse Rindert Fritsma is a Dutch politician and former civil servant. As a member of the Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid) he has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1 September 2020. He previously served in the House between 30 November 2006 and 31 October 2019. He focuses on matters of social affairs, employment, political...
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Anja Hazekamp

29. Anja Hazekamp

1968-. (aged 58)
politician
Anja Hazekamp is a Dutch politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Netherlands. She is a member of the Party for the Animals, part of the European United Left–Nordic Green Left. Previously she was member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands in 2012 and member of the States of Groningen between 2007 and 2014.
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Balthasar Bekker

30. Balthasar Bekker

1634-1698 (aged 64)
theologian writer philosopher Christian minister head teacher
Balthasar Bekker was a Dutch minister and author of philosophical and theological works. Opposing superstition, he was a key figure in the end of the witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe. His best-known work is De Betoverde Weereld (1691), or The World Bewitched (1695). He was also known for his travels to England and France
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Dolf van den Brink

31. Dolf van den Brink

1973-. (aged 53)
Dolf van den Brink is a Dutch businessman who is the chief executive officer and chairman of the executive board at Heineken N.V.
Farshad Bashir

32. Farshad Bashir

1988-. (aged 38)
politician
Farshad Bashir is a Dutch politician of Afghan descent. As a member of the Socialist Party (Socialistische Partij) he was an MP from 15 January 2008 to 23 March 2017. He focused on matters of taxation, traffic and water management.
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Rutger Kopland

33. Rutger Kopland

1934-2012 (aged 78)
psychiatrist poet physician writer university teacher
Rutger Kopland was a Dutch poet who gained great popularity for his "accessible, thoughtful style, his mild irony, his sentimentality" and whose collections sold over 200,000 copies.
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Gisbertus Voetius

34. Gisbertus Voetius

1589-1676 (aged 87)
missionary university teacher preacher theologian
Gisbertus Voetius was a Dutch Calvinist theologian, pastor, and professor.
Aukje de Vries

35. Aukje de Vries

1964-. (aged 62)
politician
Aukje de Vries is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
William Penney, Baron Penney

36. William Penney, Baron Penney

1909-1991 (aged 82)
mathematician politician physicist
William George Penney, Baron Penney, OM, KBE, FRS, FRSE was an English mathematician and professor of mathematical physics at the Imperial College London and later the rector of Imperial College London. He had a leading role in the development of High Explosive Research, Britain's clandestine nuclear programme that started in 1942 during the Second World War which produced the first...
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Wim Pijbes

37. Wim Pijbes

1961-. (aged 65)
writer art historian
Willem Meint Jans "Wim" Pijbes is a Dutch art historian and emeritus general director of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Gerbrand Bakker

38. Gerbrand Bakker

1962-. (aged 64)
journalist writer
Gerbrand Bakker is a Dutch writer. He won the International Dublin Literary Award for The Twin, the English translation of his novel Boven is het stil, and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for The Detour, the English translation of his novel De omweg. Both novels were translated by co-winner David Colmer.
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Jacques Wallage

39. Jacques Wallage

1946-. (aged 80)
university teacher sociologist politician
Jacques Wallage is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA) and sociologist.
Henk Nijboer

40. Henk Nijboer

1983-. (aged 43)
politician economist
Henk Nijboer is a Dutch politician. As a member of the Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid) he has been an MP since 20 September 2012. Previously he was a member of the provincial parliament of the province of Groningen from 2003 to 2007.
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Frank de Grave

41. Frank de Grave

1955-. (aged 71)
politician banker
Franciscus Hendrikus Gerardus "Frank" de Grave is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman. He is an Extraordinary Member of the Council of State since 3 September 2018.
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Hilbrand Nawijn

42. Hilbrand Nawijn

1948-. (aged 78)
singer lawyer politician
Hilbrand Pier Anne Nawijn is a Dutch lawyer and politician of the local political party Lijst Hilbrand Nawijn (LHN) in Zoetermeer.
Willem Vermeend

43. Willem Vermeend

1948-. (aged 78)
jurist columnist lawyer university teacher politician
Wilhelmus Adrianus Franciscus Gabriël "Willem" Vermeend is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA), academic, author and businessman. His academic career has varied between specialising in tax law, European law, and digital economy. As an author, he has published over a dozen books. Subjects include politics and economics.
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Blanks

44. Blanks

1997-. (aged 29)
cultural entrepreneur songwriter record producer musician
Simon de Wit, known professionally as Blanks, is a Dutch musician, songwriter and record producer. Alongside his own releases, he writes and produces for a range of Dutch and international artists. He is also a co-owner of the independent label Excited About Music, which releases his work as well as music by artists such as MEAU, jet van der steen...
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Sandra van Nieuwland

45. Sandra van Nieuwland

1977-. (aged 49)
singer
Sandra van Nieuwland, also known as Sandra Newland, is a Dutch singer who gained national popularity after her participation in the third season of The Voice of Holland.
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Ina Brouwer

46. Ina Brouwer

1950-. (aged 76)
lawyer politician
Ina Brouwer is a Dutch politician and lawyer who is a co-founder of the GroenLinks (GL) party. She was previously leader of the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) from 1982 to 1989.
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Jacques Monasch

47. Jacques Monasch

1962-. (aged 64)
economist art collector politician
Jacques Simon Monasch is a Dutch politician, art collector and former management as well as political consultant and civil servant. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 17 June 2010 and 23 March 2017, where he focused on matters of housing and spatial planning. He was a member of the Labour Party from 1986 to 2016. Due...
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Ben Woldring

48. Ben Woldring

1985-. (aged 41)
Internet entrepreneur
Ben Woldring is a Dutch internet entrepreneur and millionaire from Usquert who first rose to fame in the autumn of 1998 when, for a school assignment, he made a website where consumers could compare prices for mobile phone services. As a result, he appeared on television programmes like Kassa and the Jeugdjournaal. In 1999, the website Bellen.com registered its 100,000th...
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Jimmy Dijk

49. Jimmy Dijk

1985-. (aged 41)
politician
Jimmy Pieter Dijk is a Dutch politician of the Socialist Party (SP). Since 20 April 2023, he has been a member of the House of Representatives. On 13 December 2023, he succeeded Lilian Marijnissen as party leader of the SP. Dijk previously served as a member of the municipal council of Groningen from 2010 to 2023.
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Menno Snel

50. Menno Snel

1970-. (aged 56)
banker economist
Menno Snel is a Dutch politician. A member of the Democrats 66 (D66) party, he served as State Secretary for Finance from 26 October 2017 until his resignation on 18 December 2019.
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Dirk Stikker

51. Dirk Stikker

1897-1979 (aged 82)
badminton player banker diplomat politician
Dirk Uipko Stikker GCVO GBE was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Liberal State Party (LSP), co-founder of the defunct Freedom Party (PvdV) and of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and businessman. Stikker was known for his abilities as a manager and negotiator. Stikker continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his...
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Princess Annette of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-Sekrève

52. Princess Annette of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-Sekrève

1972-. (aged 54)
aristocrat
Princess Annette of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-Sekrève is the wife of Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, the second son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven.
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Klaas Knot

53. Klaas Knot

1967-. (aged 59)
university teacher economist banker
Klaas Henderikus Willem Knot is a Dutch economist and central banker who was president of the Dutch central bank De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) from 2011 until 2025. In this capacity he serves as a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), as well as of the board of governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Knot...
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Sofie van den Enk

54. Sofie van den Enk

1980-. (aged 46)
television presenter author presenter
Sofie van den Enk is a Dutch television presenter who currently works for the KRO. Sofie graduated in 2006 from the University of Groningen and holds a master's degree in American Studies.
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Stientje van Veldhoven

55. Stientje van Veldhoven

1973-. (aged 53)
diplomat politician
Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer is a Dutch politician serving as Minister for the Environment and Housing in the Third Rutte cabinet since 2019. A member of the Democrats 66 (D66) party, she served as State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management from 2017 to 2019.
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Winnie Sorgdrager

56. Winnie Sorgdrager

1948-. (aged 78)
lawyer judge politician
Winnifred "Winnie" Sorgdrager is a retired Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66) party and jurist. She was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 22 June 2018.
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Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer

57. Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer

1888-1978 (aged 90)
diplomat resistance fighter politician
Jonkheer Alidius Warmoldus Lambertus Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer was a Dutch nobleman and statesman, primarily noted for being the last colonial Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. He was taken captive after accepting Japan's demands for an unconditional surrender of the islands on 9 March 1942.
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William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz

58. William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz

1613-1664 (aged 51)
writer politician
William Frederick, was Count (from 1654 Imperial Prince) of Nassau-Dietz, Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.
Willem Johan Kolff

59. Willem Johan Kolff

1911-2009 (aged 98)
rescue of Jews during the Holocaust university teacher internist resistance fighter inventor
Willem Johan "Pim" Kolff was a pioneer of hemodialysis, artificial heart, as well as in the entire field of artificial organs. Willem was a member of the Kolff family, an old Dutch patrician family. He made his major discoveries in the field of dialysis for kidney failure during the Second World War. He emigrated in 1950 to the United States,...
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Jetta Klijnsma

60. Jetta Klijnsma

1957-. (aged 69)
historian politician
Jellejetta "Jetta" Klijnsma is a Dutch politician who was serving as the King's Commissioner of Drenthe from 2017 till 2025. She is a member of the Labour Party (PvdA).
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Pieter Jelles Troelstra

61. Pieter Jelles Troelstra

1860-1930 (aged 70)
jurist journalist poet lawyer politician
Pieter Jelles Troelstra was a Dutch lawyer, journalist and politician active in the socialist workers' movement. He is most remembered for his fight for universal suffrage and his failed call for revolution at the end of World War I.
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Willem de Sitter

62. Willem de Sitter

1872-1934 (aged 62)
mathematician astronomer physicist university teacher
Willem de Sitter was a Dutch mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He is known for the de Sitter universe, which is a cosmological model that was named after him.
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Arie Slob

63. Arie Slob

1961-. (aged 65)
historian teacher politician
Arie Slob is a Dutch politician and history teacher who served as Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Media in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 until 10 January 2022.
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Princess Marilène of Orange-Nassau

64. Princess Marilène of Orange-Nassau

1970-. (aged 56)
businessperson aristocrat
Princess Marilène of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-van den Broek is the wife of Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, and was thereby member of the Dutch Royal House until King Willem-Alexander's accession in 2013 rendered Prince Maurits too distantly related to the reigning monarch. She remains a member of the larger Dutch royal family.
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Stef Blok

65. Stef Blok

1964-. (aged 62)
politician banker
Stephanus Abraham "Stef" Blok is a Dutch politician who served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet from 25 May 2021 till 10 January 2022. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
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Johan Remkes

66. Johan Remkes

1951-. (aged 75)
politician
Johannes Wijnandus "Johan" Remkes is a Dutch politician and nonprofit director who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2002 to 2003 under Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
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Tommy Wieringa

67. Tommy Wieringa

1967-. (aged 59)
journalist writer
Tommy Wieringa is a Dutch writer. He received the Ferdinand Bordewijk Prize in 2006 for his novel Joe Speedboot (2005), and the Libris Prize in 2013 for the novel Dit zijn de namen (2012). In 2018 he won the Bookspot Literatuurprijs for his novel De heilige Rita (The Blessed Rita). His novel The Death of Murat Idrissi, translated by Sam...
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Frits Zernike

68. Frits Zernike

1888-1966 (aged 78)
university teacher physicist mathematician inventor chemist
Frits Zernike was a Dutch physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1953 for his invention of the phase-contrast microscope.
Renske Leijten

69. Renske Leijten

1979-. (aged 47)
politician spokesperson
Renske Maria Leijten is a Dutch politician of the Socialist Party (SP), who was a member of the House of Representatives between 2006 and 2023.
Malik Azmani

70. Malik Azmani

1976-. (aged 50)
politician
Malik Azmani is a Dutch politician and former lawyer and civil servant. A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), which he led in the 2019 European Parliament election, he has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since then. Azmani was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010.
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Kati Piri

71. Kati Piri

1979-. (aged 47)
political adviser politician
Kati Piri is a Hungarian-born Dutch politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Labour Party (PvdA), she previously was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) within the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats from 2014 until 2021.
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Jan Hendrik Oort

72. Jan Hendrik Oort

1900-1992 (aged 92)
university teacher astronomer physicist
Jan Hendrik Oort ForMemRS was a Dutch astronomer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the Milky Way and who was a pioneer in the field of radio astronomy. The New York Times called him "one of the century's foremost explorers of the universe"; the European Space Agency website describes him as "one of the greatest astronomers of the...
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Wubbo Ockels

73. Wubbo Ockels

1946-2014 (aged 68)
television presenter physicist university teacher presenter engineer
Wubbo Johannes Ockels was a Dutch physicist and astronaut with the European Space Agency who, in 1985, became the first Dutch citizen in space when he flew on STS-61-A as a payload specialist. He later became professor of aerospace engineering at Delft University of Technology.
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Ben Feringa

74. Ben Feringa

1951-. (aged 75)
university teacher chemist
Bernard Lucas "Ben" Feringa is a Dutch synthetic organic chemist who specializes in molecular nanotechnology and homogeneous catalysis. He is the Jacobus van 't Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen; and an Academy Professor of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Feringa's research on molecular machines was awarded the...
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Tanja Nijmeijer

75. Tanja Nijmeijer

1978-. (aged 48)
activist partisan
Tanja Nijmeijer, also known as Alexandra Nariño, is a Dutch former guerrilla and English teacher who has been a member of the Colombian guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) since 2002. She has also been one of the group's leading public figures since the discovery of her diary in 2007. She was part of the negotiating team involved...
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Sybrand van Haersma Buma

76. Sybrand van Haersma Buma

1965-. (aged 61)
jurist lawyer politician
Sybrand van Haersma Buma is a Dutch politician who has served as Mayor of Leeuwarden since 2019. Until 2019, he was a member of the House of Representatives from 2002 who also served as the parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) from 2010 and as the leader of his party from 2012.
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Bruno Bruins

77. Bruno Bruins

1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Bruno Johannes Bruins is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) who served as Minister for Medical Care in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 to 19 March 2020, when he resigned. He previously served as State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science from 29 June 2006 until 22 February 2007 in the...
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Paul Polman

78. Paul Polman

1956-. (aged 70)
writer economist manager entrepreneur
Paulus Gerardus Josephus Maria Polman, KBE is a Dutch businessman and author. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the British/Dutch consumer goods company Unilever. Polman is also the co-author (with Andrew Winston) of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take.
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Wim Duisenberg

79. Wim Duisenberg

1935-2005 (aged 70)
banker university teacher politician professor economist
Willem Frederik "Wim" Duisenberg was a Dutch politician, economist and senior official who served as the first President of the European Central Bank from 1998 to 2003. A member of the Labour Party (PvdA), he previously was Minister of Finance from 1973 to 1977 and presided over De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank, from 1982 to 1997.
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Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau-Vollenhoven

80. Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau-Vollenhoven

1968-. (aged 58)
businessperson aristocrat
Prince Maurits Willem Pieter Hendrik of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven is a member of the Dutch royal family as the eldest son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven.
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Epke Zonderland

81. Epke Zonderland

1986-. (aged 40)
artistic gymnast
Epke Jan Zonderland is a Dutch artistic gymnast and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist on high bar. He is a 4-time Olympian (2008–20) and has also taken 3 World Championships golds on high bar at the 2013, 2014 and 2018 World Championships, the first man to secure this feat on that apparatus. He is nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman.”
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Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau-Vollenhoven

82. Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau-Vollenhoven

1969-. (aged 57)
aristocrat entrepreneur racing automobile driver
Prince Bernhard Lucas Emmanuel of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven is a Dutch entrepreneur and a member of the Dutch royal family.
Lara van Ruijven

83. Lara van Ruijven

1992-2020 (aged 28)
speed skater short-track speed skater
Lara Victoria van Ruijven was a Dutch short track speed skater. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she was part of the Dutch 3000 metres relay team that won a bronze medal. She won gold at the World Championships one year later. By doing so, she became the first Dutch woman to win a world short track title at an individual...
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Princess Christina of the Netherlands

84. Princess Christina of the Netherlands

1947-2019 (aged 72)
singer aristocrat
Princess Christina of the Netherlands was the youngest of four daughters of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She taught singing in New York and was a long-term supporter of the Youth Music Foundation in the Netherlands. Born visually impaired, she worked to share her knowledge of dance and sound therapy with the blind.
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Aletta Jacobs

85. Aletta Jacobs

1854-1929 (aged 75)
suffragist editor peace activist physician women's rights activist
Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs was a Dutch physician and women's suffrage activist. As the first woman officially to attend a Dutch university, she became one of the first female physicians in the Netherlands. In 1882, she founded the world's first birth control clinic and was a leader in both the Dutch and international women's movements. She led campaigns aimed at deregulating...
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Arjen Lubach

86. Arjen Lubach

1979-. (aged 47)
writer cabaret performer presenter record producer screenwriter
Arjen Henrik Lubach is a Dutch comedian, author, music producer and television presenter. Between 2014 and 2021 he was the host of the weekly news satire television show Zondag met Lubach (Sunday with Lubach) on NPO 3. Between February 2022 and October 2024, he hosted his next show, De Avondshow met Arjen Lubach (The Evening show with Arjen Lubach) on...
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Frans de Waal

87. Frans de Waal

1948-2024 (aged 76)
photographer researcher university teacher primatologist author
Franciscus Bernardus Maria de Waal was a Dutch-American primatologist and ethologist. He was the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Primate Behavior in the Department of Psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, director of the Living Links Center at the Emory National Primate Research Center, and author of numerous books including Chimpanzee Politics (1982) and Our Inner Ape (2005). His...
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Ruud Vreeman

88. Ruud Vreeman

1947-. (aged 79)
trade unionist politician
Rudolf Lourens "Ruud" Vreeman is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA) and trade union leader.
Job Cohen

89. Job Cohen

1947-. (aged 79)
university teacher jurist politician
Marius Job Cohen is a retired Dutch politician and jurist who served as Mayor of Amsterdam from 2001 to 2010 and Leader of the Labour Party (PvdA) from 2010 to 2012.
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Johan Huizinga

90. Johan Huizinga

1872-1945 (aged 73)
art historian university teacher draftsperson linguist resistance fighter
Johan Huizinga was a Dutch historian and one of the founders of modern cultural history.
Henk Bleker

91. Henk Bleker

1953-. (aged 73)
jurist politician
Hinderk "Henk" Bleker is a retired Dutch politician and jurist who served as State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation in the First Rutte cabinet from 14 October 2010 to 5 November 2012. A member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), he previously was party chair from 20 June 2010 until 14 October 2010.
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Ernst Kuipers

92. Ernst Kuipers

1959-. (aged 67)
gastroenterologist politician
Ernst Johan Kuipers is a Dutch gastroenterologist, professor and politician who served as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the fourth Rutte cabinet from 2022 until 2024. He is a member of the Democrats 66 (D66) party.
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Pim Fortuyn

93. Pim Fortuyn

1948-2002 (aged 54)
columnist professor writer sociologist university teacher
Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn, was a Dutch politician, author, civil servant, businessman, sociologist and academic who founded the party Pim Fortuyn List (Lijst Pim Fortuyn or LPF) in 2002.
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Heleen Mees

94. Heleen Mees

1968-. (aged 58)
jurist columnist lawyer writer women's rights activist
Heleen Mees is a Dutch opinion writer, economist, and lawyer. Involved with politics and public policy in the Netherlands and the US, she has also taught at universities in both countries.
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Hans Wijers

95. Hans Wijers

1951-. (aged 75)
politician economist
Gerardus Johannes "Hans" Wijers is a Dutch retired politician and businessman who served as Minister of Economic Affairs from 1994 to 1998 under Prime Minister Wim Kok. A member of the Democrats 66 (D66) party, he has been the chairman of the supervisory board of ING Group since 2018.
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Halbe Zijlstra

96. Halbe Zijlstra

1969-. (aged 57)
politician
Halbe Zijlstra is a retired Dutch politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 26 October 2017 to 13 February 2018 in the Third Rutte cabinet. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
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Edgars Rinkēvičs

97. Edgars Rinkēvičs

1973-. (aged 53)
diplomat politician
Edgars Rinkēvičs is a Latvian public official and politician serving as the 11th and current president of Latvia since July 2023. He previously served as the minister of foreign affairs of Latvia from 2011 to 2023, and head of the Chancery of the President of Latvia as state secretary of the Ministry of Defence, as well as a deputy of...
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Sahra Wagenknecht

98. Sahra Wagenknecht

1969-. (aged 57)
economist non-fiction writer opinion journalist editor politician
Sahra Wagenknecht is a German politician. She was a member of the Bundestag from 2009 to 2025, where she represented The Left until 2023. From 2015 to 2019, she served as that party's parliamentary co-chair. With a small team of allies, Wagenknecht left the party on 23 October 2023 to found her own Eurosceptic, populist party, Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht, which...
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Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

99. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

1853-1926 (aged 73)
inventor physicist scientist university teacher
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was a Dutch experimental physicist who became the first to liquefy helium, cooling it to near 1.5 kelvin (K). For this work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1913.
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Paramanga Ernest Yonli

100. Paramanga Ernest Yonli

1956-. (aged 70)
diplomat minister politician
Paramanga Ernest Yonli also known as Ernest Paramanga Yonli, is a Burkinabé politician. He was Prime Minister from 6 November 2000 to 3 June 2007 and then President of the Economic and Social Council of Burkina Faso until March 2015.
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