List of Dutch Americans

New Netherlands flag

The first Dutch settlers arrived in 1624 and founded a number of villages and a town called New Amsterdam on the East Coast, which would become the future world metropolis of New York. According to the 2006 United States Census, more than 5 million Americans claim total or partial Dutch heritage. Today the majority of the Dutch Americans live in California, New York, Michigan, Iowa, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania

This is a list of notable Dutch-Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and Americans of full or partial Dutch ancestry.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Dutch American or must have references showing they are Dutch American and are notable.

List

Arts and literature

• Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), abstract expressionist painter
• Barthold Fles (1902–1989), literary agent, author, editor, translator and publisher
• Charles Fort (1874–1932), author, wrote Book of the Damned, father of ufology, cryptozoology and critic/satirist of mainstream, dogmatic science.
• Frederick Franck (1909–2006), painter, sculptor, and author of 30 books who was known for his interest in human spirituality^[1]*
• Herman Melville (1819–1891), author and poet, wrote Moby Dick^[2]
• Milton J. Nieuwsma (born 1941), author, filmwriter-producer
• Gloria Vanderbilt (born 1924), artist and socialite^[3]
• Janwillem van de Wetering (1931–2008), Dutch-American author of police procedurals, Zen autobiographies and children's books
• Walt Whitman (1819–1892), poet^[4]
• Edward W. Bok (1863–1930), author, publisher, editor of Ladies Home Journal
• Raeburn van Buren, magazine and comic strip illustrator best known for his work on the syndicated Abbie an' Slats
• Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882–1944), author, historian and journalist
• Peter DeVries (1910-1993), author and editor wrote "Tunnel of Love" and others, editor and staffer for Poetry magazine and The New Yorker

Entertainment

James Van Der Beek

Dick Van Dyke

Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart)

Bruce Springsteen

• Christina Aguilera (born 1980), singer, actress and model, partly of Dutch descent through her mother.
• Dan Aykroyd actor.
• Christina Applegate (born 1971), small amount of Dutch ancestry,^[5] actress who gained fame as a teenage actress, playing the role of Kelly Bundy on the sitcom Married... with Children.
• Reiko Aylesworth (born 1972), actress, best known for playing Michelle Dessler in the television series 24
• Carmit Bachar (born 1974), member of the Pussycat Dolls, born to an Israeli father and Dutch-Indonesian mother
• Elizabeth Banks (born 1974), distant Dutch ancestry^[6] Actress
• Shannon Bex (born 1980), member of Danity Kane, is of Scottish and Dutch descent.
• Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), actor (His father was of part Dutch descent. The name “Bogart” comes from the Dutch surname Bogaert. It is derived from the word "bogaard", a short name for "boomgaard", which means "orchard".)
• Moon Bloodgood (born 1975), actress (Father has small amount of Dutch ancestry)
• Michelle Branch (born 1983), singer (Dutch through her maternal grandfather)
• Marlon Brando (1924–2004), Hollywood film actor, father was of partial Dutch ancestry
• Steve Buscemi (born 1957),^[7] actor, writer and director, mother had some Dutch ancestry
• John Carradine (1906–1988), actor, distant Dutch ancestry; descended from Dutch diamond merchant, Kiliaen van Rensselaer who settled the province of Albany, NY in the seventeenth century
• Keith Carradine (born 1949), actor and son of John Carradine, distant Dutch ancestry
• Robert Carradine (born 1954), actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• David Carradine (1931–2009), actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• Ever Carradine (born 1974), actress and daughter of Robert Carradine, distant Dutch ancestry
• Montgomery Clift (1920–1966), actor, of partial maternal Dutch ancestry
• Wilhelmina Cooper (née Behmenburg) (1939–1980), model who began with Ford Models and, at the peak of her success, founded her own agency, Wilhelmina Models
• Steven Culp (born 1956), actor, best known for his role as 'Rex Van de Kamp' in Desperate Housewives
• Nicholas D'Agosto (born 1980), mother of part Dutch descent^[8] actor best known for being the lead of Final Destination 5 and his recurring role in Heroes.
• Dane DeHaan (born 1986), film actor, paternal great-grandfather was of Dutch descent
• Robert De Niro (born 1943), two time Academy Award winning actor, mother of part Dutch descent
• Johnny Depp (born 1963)^[9] actor, film producer, and musician. He has distant Ducth ancestry.
• Emily Deschanel (born 1976), actress best known for her role as Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan in the comedy-crime drama series Bones, distant Dutch ancestry
• Zooey Deschanel (born 1980), actress, distant Dutch ancestry
• Joyce DeWitt (born 1949), actress
• Thomas Dekker (born 1987), actor, his paternal great-grandfather was of Dutch descent
• Laura Dern (born 1967),^[10] actress and film director of English, Scottish, French, Swiss, German, Norwegian and Dutch descent
• Michael Douglas (born 1944), actor and producer who won four Golden Globes and two Academy Awards, distant Dutch ancestry on mother's side
• Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989), film actor, best known for his parts as a villain in Spaghetti Western movies, of part Dutch descent
• Charlize Theron (born 1975), South African actress of German, Dutch and French descent, now naturalized citizen of the United States
• Clint Eastwood (born 1930), Academy Award winning film actor, director and producer, distant Dutch ancestry
• Zac Efron (born 1987),^[11] actor known for his lead role in High School Musical, paternal grandfather of Polish Jewish descent; Zac also has distant Dutch ancestry
• Sam Elliott (born 1944), film actor, Small amount of Dutch Ancestry
• Anna Faris (born 1976)^[12] actress best known for her comedic roles in the Scary Movie film series, small amount of Dutch ancestry
• Frances Farmer (1913–1970), film actress, her mother was of Dutch ancestry
• Melissa Ferlaak (born 1979), Soprano singer and vocal coach, distant Dutch ancestry (and the original spelling of her surname was Verlaak).
• Nina Foch (1924–2008), film actress, father was from the Netherlands
• Bridget Fonda (born 1964), actress, daughter of Peter Fonda, best known for her roles in The Godfather Part III and Jackie Brown, father of part Dutch descent
• Henry Fonda (1905–1982), Academy Award winning film actor, father of Peter and Jane Fonda, was of part Dutch descent
• Jane Fonda (born 1937), Academy Award winning actress, daughter of Henry Fonda, father was of part Dutch descent
• Peter Fonda (born 1940), actor, best known for his role as 'Wyatt' in the 1960's counterculture classic Easy Rider, father was of part Dutch descent
• Ace Frehley (born 1951), musician, Dutch Paternal side
• Troy Garity (born 1973), actor, son of Jane Fonda best known for his role in the television movie Soldier's Girl and in the Barbershop films.
• Janina Gavankar (born 1980), actress of Indian and Dutch ancestry
• Richard Gere^[13] (born 1949), actor best known for his role in American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, Arbitrage, and Chicago. He has distant Dutch ancestry.
• Lauren German (born 1978), film actress^[14]
• Paul Giamatti (born 1967), actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar (born 1974), actor, perhaps best known for his role as Zack Morris on NBC's Saved by the Bell; his father is of Dutch Jewish and German descent, and his mother is of Dutch-Indonesian descent^[15]
• Lucas Grabeel (born 1984), American actor, distant Dutch ancestry, best known for his role as Ryan Evans in High School Musical (film series)
• Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer, dancer and pin-up girl whose sensational bathing-suit photo became the number one pinup of the World War II era^[16]
• Rebecca Hall (born 1982), maternal grandmother was Dutch
• Woody Harrelson (born 1961), actor known as bartender Woody Boyd in the television sitcom Cheers, distant Dutch ancestry
• Jon Heder (born 1977),^[17] actor known for the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite, of part Dutch descent
• Ed Helms^[18] (born 1974), actor known for his work as a correspondent in The Daily Show, Andy Bernard in the U.S. version of The Office and Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy. He has distant Dutch ancestry.
• Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), actress. Her mother, Baroness Ella van Heemstra (1900 – 1984), was a Dutch aristocrat
• Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014), actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• Bryce Dallas Howard (born 1981), actress and daughter of director Ron Howard, distant Dutch ancestry
• Clint Howard (born 1959), actor and brother of director Ron Howard, distant Dutch ancestry
• Ron Howard (born 1954), Academy Award winning director, producer and actor, best known for directing Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Beautiful Mind, distant Dutch ancestry
• Michiel Huisman (born 1981) actor, musician, singer-songwriter, best known for his role in Game of Thrones and The Age of Adaline
• Sarah Hyland^[19] (born 1990), actress best known for her role as oldest sibling Haley Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, distant Dutch ancestry
• Laura Jansen (born 1977), singer-songwriter (born in Breda, the Netherlands, based in Los Angeles, California)
• Famke Janssen (born 1964), fashion model and actress, best known for her roles as Bond Girl Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye, Jean Grey in the X-Men film series and Lenore Mills in Taken and Taken 2
• Angelina Jolie, (born 1975), actress, Her mother had French Canadian, German, and Dutch ancestry.^[20]
• Kim Kardashian (born 1980), actress and model, she played in the 2008 Disaster Movie, distant Dutch ancestry
• Dave Keuning (born 1976), musician, guitarist for the band The Killers
• Eva LaRue (born 1966), actress of Scottish, French, Dutch ancestry, known as Dr. Maria Santos from All My Children, and for portraying CSI: Miami detective Natalia Boa Vista
• Taylor Lautner (born 1992), actor, best known from his role as Jacob Black in the Twilight Saga film series, has some Dutch ancestry
• Kellan Lutz (born 1985), actor, small amount of Dutch ancestry
• Tim McGraw (born 1967),^[21] singer, songwriter and actor with distant Dutch ancestry
• Leighton Meester (born 1986), actress, best known for her role as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl, of part Dutch descent on father's side
• Wentworth Miller (born 1972), actor and model best known his role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series Prison Break, small amount of Dutch ancestry
• Michelle Pfeiffer, (born 1958), actress, best known for her role in Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Batman Returns and Grease 2, paternal grandmother was of part Dutch descent
• Bill Pullman, (born 1953), actor, best known for his role in Ruthless People, Spaceballs, Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping and Lost Highway, maternal grandparents were Dutch
• Jason Ritter (born 1980), actor,^[22] distant Dutch ancestry
• John Ritter (1948–2003), actor,^[23] distant Dutch ancestry
• Rebecca Romijn (born 1972), actress and fashion model, best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men film series, of 3/4 Dutch descent^[24]
• Keri Russell^[25] (born 1976), actress known for portraying the title role of Felicity Porter on the series Felicity, distant Dutch ancestry
• Thelma Schoonmaker (born 1940), three-time Academy Award-winning film editor, best known for editing all of Martin Scorsese's movies since Raging Bull, of part Dutch ancestry
• Liev Schreiber (born 1967),^[26] actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• Jane Seymour (born 1951), actress. Best known as Bond-girl in Live and Let Die and as Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Jane has a Dutch mother
• Michael Sinterniklaas - Voice actor and founder of NYAV Post, a New York Recording Studio
• Douglas Smith (born 1985),^[27] small amount of Dutch ancestry
• Gregory Smith (born 1983),^[28] small amount of Dutch ancestry
• Jimmy Smits (born 1955), Golden Globe and Emmy winning actor is half-Dutch, half Puerto Rican
• Cobie Smulders (born 1982), actress and model of Dutch and English descent
• James Spader (born 1960),^[29] actor, distant Dutch ancestry
• Martin Spanjers (born 1987), actor best known for playing Rory Hennessy on the sitcom 8 Simple Rules
• Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), singer-songwriter, distant Dutch ancestry
• Mary Steenburgen (born 1953), Academy Award and Golden Globe winning actress, best known from her roles in Melvin and Howard and Back to the Future Part III, distant Dutch ancestry
• Mark Stoermer (born 1977), musician, bassist for the band The Killers, father is a Dutch Australian
• Taylor Swift (born 1989), country singer,^[30] distant Dutch ancestry
• Lou Tellegen (1881–1934), film actor^[31]
• Shirley Temple actress.
• Egbert Van Alstyne (1878–1951), songwriter and pianist
• Louis van Amstel (born 1972), professional dancer, choreographer, and a dancesport coach
• Casper Van Dien (born 1968), actor, of part Dutch descent
• James Van Der Beek (born 1977), television and film actor, best known as Dawson from Dawson's Creek, of part Dutch descent
• Anneliese van der Pol (born 1984), television actress, perhaps best known for her role as Chelsea Daniels in the Disney Channel original comedy series, That's So Raven^[32]
• Heather Vandeven (born 1981), model and Pet of the Year 2007
• Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), famous television and film star and his brother, television actor Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931)
• Barry Van Dyke (born 1951), actor and son of Dick Van Dyke
• Alex Van Halen (born 1953), drummer and founding member of the hard rock band Van Halen^[33]
• Eddie Van Halen (born 1955), guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Van Halen^[33]
• Vanilla Ice (born 1967) Rapper. Most known for his song Ice Ice Baby
• Andrew VanWyngarden (born 1983) American musician, lead singer and guitarist of Psychedelic rock band MGMT.
• Billy Van Zandt (born 1957), playwright, actor
• Philip Van Zandt (1904–1958), Broadway and Hollywood actor, played in Citizen Kane
• Townes Van Zandt (1944–1997), country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet.
• Donnie Van Zant (born 1952), founder and singer of .38 Special
• Johnny Van Zant (born 1959), lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987
• Ronnie Van Zant (1948–1977), lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1970–1977
• Paul Verhoeven (born 1938), film director
• Captain Beefheart (1941–2010), the stage name of musician and artist Don Van Vliet
• Donald Voorhees (1903–1989), composer and conductor
• Dionne Warwick (born 1940), singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health, distant Dutch ancestry
• Sigourney Weaver^[34] (born 1949), actress best known for her role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films and Grace Augustine in Avatar, distant Dutch ancestry
• Bruce Willis (born 1955),^[35] father of partial Dutch descent
• Jan de Bont (born 1943), film director, producer and cinematographer
• Carel Struycken (born 1948), film actor
• Colonel Tom Parker (1909–1997), manager of Elvis Presley

Politics

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Martin van Buren

• George H.W. Bush (born 1924), 41st President of the United States
• George W. Bush, (born 1946), 43rd President of the United States
• Jeb Bush, (born 1953), former Governor of Florida
• Jacob Brinkerhoff (1810-1880), United States Representative from Ohio
• Charles Croswell (1825–1886), Governor of Michigan
• Ivo Daalder (born 1960), 20th United States Permanent Representative to NATO
• Howard Dean (born 1948),^[36] Governor of Vermont
• Harry DeBoer (1905–1991), Trotskyist trade union leader
• Dick DeVos (born 1955), Republican candidate for governor of Michigan.
• Frank Ellsworth Doremus (1865-1947), United States Representative from Michigan
• Hamilton Fish
• Rodney Frelinghuysen (born 1946), United States Representative from New Jersey
• Todd Gloria (born 1978), San Diego City Council
• John Hickenlooper (born 1952), Current Governor of Colorado
• Pete Hoekstra (born 1953), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan
• John Hoeven (born 1957), United States Senator from North Dakota
• Harold G. Hoffman (1896–1954), 41st Governor of New Jersey
• Bill Huizenga (born 1969), United States Representative from Michigan
• Kenny Hulshof (born 1958), member of the United States Representative from Missouri
• John Jay (1745–1829), Founding Father of the United States and the first Chief Justice of the United States
• Martin Kalbfleisch (1804–1873), United States Representative from New York
• Thomas Kean (born 1935), former Governor of New Jersey
• Herman Knickerbocker (1779–1855), United States Representative from New York
• John Lindsay (1920-2000), Mayor of New York City and United States Representative from New York
• Bob Livingston (born 1943), former United States Representative from Louisiana
• Henry Demarest Lloyd (1847–1903), progressive political activist
• Elizabeth Monroe (1768–1830), wife of James Monroe; of paternal English and maternal Dutch ancestry
• Marshall Mouw (born 1942), City of Glendora Mayor and Councilman
• Dave Mulder (born 1939), State Senator from Iowa
• A. J. Muste (1885–1967), socialist active in the pacifist movement, labor movement and the US civil rights movement
• Dick Posthumus (born 1950), Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
• John V. L. Pruyn (1811-1877), United States Representative from New York
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), Democratic President of the U.S.
• Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), Republican President of the U.S.
• Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Marge Roukema (born 1929), United States Representative from New Jersey
• Albert Janse Ryckman (c. 1642–1737), Mayor of Albany, New York; Prominent Brewer; Captain in Albany Malitia
• Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), general in the American Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York^[37]
• Alan K. Simpson (born 1931), United States Senator from Wyoming
• Peter Stuyvesant (1612–1672), Director-General of the colony of New Amsterdam (later New York)
• George Bell Timmerman, Jr. (1912–1994), Governor of South Carolina
• Daniel W. Voorhees (1827-1897), United States Senator from Indiana
• Simeon Van Akin (1842-1906), United States Representative from Michigan
• Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), Democratic President of the U.S.
• Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721–1814), 1st Lieutenant Governor of New York
• Stephanus Van Cortlandt (1643–1700), first native born Mayor of New York City, grandfather of Pierre van Cortlandt
• Jacobus Van Cortlandt (1658–1739), two-time Mayor of New York City (1710-1711 and 1719-1720)
• Espy Van Horne (1795-1829), United States Representative from Pennsylvania
• John Van de Kamp (born 1936) Attorney General California (1983-1991)
• Arthur H. Vandenberg (1884–1951), Republican senator from Michigan
• Chris Van Hollen (born 1959), United States Representative from Maryland
• Isaac B. Van Houten (1776-1850), United States Representative from New York
• Guy Vander Jagt (1931–2007), Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan^[38]
• Cornelius P. Van Ness (1782–1852), Governor of Vermont
• Frederick Van Nuys (1874-1944), United States Senator from Indiana
• Stephen Van Rensselaer (1764–1839), 2nd Lieutenant Governor of New York and one of the richest Americans ever to have lived^[39]
• Robert B. Van Valkenburgh (1762-1834), United States Representative from New York
• Murray Van Wagoner (1821-1888), United States Representative from New York
• Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence (1791–1861), the first popularly elected Mayor of New York City
• Robert Anderson Van Wyck (1849–1918), the first mayor of New York City after the consolidation of the five boroughs into the City of New York in 1898
• Tim Van Zandt (1762-1834), United States Representative from Missouri
• Richard Vander Veen (1922-2006), United States Representative from Michigan
• Daniel C. Verplanck (1762-1834), United States Representative from New York
• Daniel W. Voorhees (1827-1897), United States Senator from Indiana
• Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873), American Democratic Party politician
• Victor Vroom (born 1932), business school professor at the Yale School of Management
• Henry C. Warmoth (1842-1931), Governor of Louisiana
• Jacob Aaron Westervelt (1800–1879), renowned and prolific shipbuilder and Mayor of New York (1853–1855)

Military

Hoyt Vandenberg

• Eugene DeBruin (fl. 1933–1968), USAF sergeant; disappeared over Laos in 1968
• John L. DeWitt (1880–1962), U.S. four-star general. During World War II.
• James Longstreet (1821–1904), Confederate Lieutenant-General in the American Civil War
• Peter Schoomaker (born 1946), U.S. four-star general. Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• Jack Robert Lousma (born 1936), a retired United States Marine Corps colonel, aeronautical engineer, NASA astronaut (member of the second manned crew on the Skylab space station in 1973, commander STS-3, the third Space Shuttle mission), and politician (R).
• Eric Schoomaker (born 1948), U.S. three-star general. Surgeon General of the United States Army
• Robert M. Shoemaker (born 1924), U.S. four-star general. During the Vietnam War
• David Petraeus (born 1952), U.S. four-star general. Commander in Iraq in 2007, his father is an immigrant from the Netherlands.
• James Van Fleet (1892–1992), U.S. four-star general. Army General during World War II and the Korean War
• Isaac Van Wart (1759–1828), militiaman from the state of New York during the American Revolution. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André
• Alexander Archer Vandegrift (1887–1973), US four-star general. Medal of Honor. 18th Commandant US Marine Corps
• Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg (1899–1954), US four-star general. During World War II. Second Chief of Staff US Air Force. Director Central Intelligence Agency
• Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Schuyler (1900–1993), US Army four-star general. Served as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from 1953 to 1959.
• Philip John Schuyler (1733–1804), general in the American Revolution and US Senator from New York
• Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (1887–1944), US brigadier general. Medal of Honor. Fought in both world wars.
• Earl Van Dorn (1820–1863), Confederate general during the American Civil War.
• John Bell Hood (1831-1879), Confederate general during the American Civil War.
• Daniel Van Voorhis (1878-1956), United States Army Lieutenant General
• Dirk J. Debbink, United States Army Lieutenant General
• Henry Rutgers (1745-1830), American Revolutionary War hero
• Thomas S. Moorman (1910-1997), United States Air Force Academy
• Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. (born 1940), Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force

Sciences

Cornelius Vanderbilt

• Nicolaas Bloembergen (born 1920), physicist^[40]
• Bart J. Bok (1906–1983), astronomer, director of Steward Observatory
• Dirk Brouwer (1902–1966), astronomer^[41]
• Samuel Abraham Goudsmit (1902–1978), physicist famous for jointly proposing the concept of electron spin with George Eugene Uhlenbeck
• Thomas Edison (1847–1931), inventor and businessman, his father was of Dutch descent.
• Anthony Heinsbergen (1894–1981), muralist considered the foremost designer of North American movie theatre interiors^[42]
• Harlan Kredit (born 1938), award-winning science teacher and ecologist
• Arend Lijphart (born 1936), world-renowned political scientist
• Willem Jacob Luyten (1899–1994), astronomer^[43]
• Willem Johan Kolff (1911–2009), inventor of hemodialysis treatment
• Robert Moog (1934–2005), a pioneer of electronic music and inventor of the Moog synthesizer
• Gerard Peter Kuiper (1905–1973), astronomer
• Jan Schilt (1894–1982), Dutch born astronomer, inventor of the Schilt photometer, Rutherford Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University
• Maarten Schmidt (born 1929), Dutch born astronomer who measured the distances of astronomical objects called quasars
• Hubert Schoemaker (1950–2006), chemist and biotechnological pioneer^[44]
• Benjamin Spock (1903–1998), paediatrician and author of Baby and Child Care^[45]
• James Van Allen (1914–2006), astronomer for whom the Van Allen belt is named.
• Robert J. Van de Graaff (1901–1967), physicist, developed the Van de Graaff generator
• Peter van de Kamp (1901–1995), astronomer^[46]
• Lodewijk van den Berg (born 1932), chemical engineer and astronaut, payload specialist STS-51B Space Shuttle Challenger^[47]
• Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877), founder of Vanderbilt University
• Albert Vander Veer (1841–1929), surgeon

Sports

Erik Spoelstra

Rik Smits

Bert Blyleven

• David Aardsma (born 1981), Major League Baseball player currently with the Seattle Mariners
• Don Ackerman (1930–2011), NBA player
• Rick Adelman (born 1946), NBA player and current basketball coach
• Odell Beckham Jr (born 1992), NFL player, Moms part Dutch
• Hank Beenders (1916–2003), NBA player
• Bert Blyleven (born 1951), Major League Baseball player, born in the Netherlands
• Xander Bogaerts, (born 1992), player of Boston Red Sox since 2009
• Kiki Cuyler (1898–1950), Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938
• Matt den Dekker (born 1987), Major League Baseball center fielder
• Vern Den Herder (born 1948), NFL defensive end with Miami Dolphins 1971-82, two-time Super Bowl champ
• Lenny Dykstra (born 1963), award winning professional baseball player
• Robert Eenhoorn (born 1968), Major League Baseball played for New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels and New York Mets.
• Rikkert Faneyte (born 1969), Major League Baseball player from 1993 to 1996 for the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers
• Matt Grevers (born 1985), Olympic swimmer
• Cole Hamels (born 1983), Major League Baseball pitcher currently with the Philadelphia Phillies^[48]
• Shea Hillenbrand (born 1975), Major League Baseball player currently with the Anaheim Angels
• Harald Hasselbach (born 1967), NFL player
• Andruw Jones, (born 1977) played for Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees
• Jim Kaat (born 1938), Major League Baseball pitcher, three-time All Star, 16-time Gold Glove winner, and television broadcaster
• Kyle Korver (born 1981), basketball player
• Arie Luyendyk (born 1953), auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indianapolis 500
• Mark Mulder (born 1977), Major League Baseball player currently with the St. Louis Cardinals
• Swen Nater (born 1950), ABA and NBA player, the only player ever to lead both the NBA and ABA in rebounding
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis (born 1987), Major League Baseball player currently with the New York Mets
• Jay Riemersma (born 1973), NFL player for the Buffalo Bills
• Bas Rutten (born 1965), MMA fighter and color commentator
• Curt Schilling (born 1966), Major League Baseball player currently with the Boston Red Sox
• Julia Smit (born 1987), Olympic swimmer
• Ryan Sheckler (born 1989), skateboarder
• Jack Sikma (born 1955), NBA player, averaged 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds during 14 seasons. Currently assistant-coach at Minnesota Timberwolves
• Luke Sikma (born 1989), basketball player
• Rik Smits (born 1966), basketball player, played in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers
• Tiffany van Soest (born 1989), Muay Thai kickboxer
• Erik Spoelstra (born 1970), head coach for the Miami Heat, during their NBA championship win in 2012
• Earnie Stewart (born 1969), soccer player who was a regular midfielder for the U. S. national team from 1990s until his retirement in 2005^[49]
• Greg Stiemsma (born 1985), NBA player
• Jan van Beveren (1948–2011), soccer player
• Jermaine Van Buren (born 1980), Major League Baseball player
• Johnny Vander Meer (1914–1997), baseball player, the only pitcher in major league history to pitch two consecutive no-hitters
• John Vander Wal (born 1966), Major League Baseball player
• Tejay van Garderen (born 1988), cyclist
• Jeff Van Gundy (born 1962), head coach of New York Knicks and Houston Rockets NBA teams
• Norm Van Lier (1947–2009), NBA all star and television broadcaster
• Peter Vanderkaay (born 1984), Olympic swimmer
• Keith Van Horn (born 1975), NBA player
• James Van Riemsdyk (born 1989), 6'3, 211 lbs, left-shooting left wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Andy Van Slyke (born 1960), Major League Baseball player, first base coach for the Detroit Tigers
• Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), Major League Baseball player
• Logan Vander Velden (born 1971), NBA player
• Justin Verlander (born 1983), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
• Kris Versteeg (born 1986), right winger for the Florida Panthers
• Tiger Woods (born 1975), professional golfer

Journalism

Anderson Cooper

• Anderson Cooper (born 1967), CNN journalist, mother is Dutch-American socialite Gloria Vanderbilt^[50]
• Walter Cronkite (1916–2009), CBS Evening News journalist
• Watson Spoelstra (1910–1999), sportswriter for the Detroit News, grandfather of Erik Spoelstra
• Greta Van Susteren (born 1954), Fox News journalist

Theology

• Louis Berkhof (1873–1957), Reformed systematic theologian at Calvin Theological Seminary^[51]
• Hank Hanegraaff (born 1950), Christian apologist and president of the Christian Research Institute
• Anthony A. Hoekema (1913–1988), Reformed systematic theologian at Calvin Theological Seminary^[52]
• Herman Hoeksema (1886–1965), pastor in the Christian Reformed Church and later in the Protestant Reformed Churches, Reformed systematic theologian at the Protestant Reformed Theological School^[53]
• Richard Mouw (born 1940), Christian philosopher and apologist and president of Fuller Theological Seminary
• James Olthuis, inter-disciplinary scholar in ethics, hermeneutics, philosophical theology, as well as a theorist and practitioner of psychotherapy at the Institute for Christian Studies
• Alvin Plantinga (born 1932), philosopher known for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion^[54]
• Cornelius Plantinga, president of Calvin Theological Seminary
• Albertus van Raalte,(1811–1876), Calvinist preacher and leader of Dutch immigrants to Michigan
• Robert H. Schuller (1926-2015), televangelist and pastor known around the world through his weekly broadcast The Hour of Power^[55]
• Robert A. Schuller (born 1954), televangelist and pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, son of Robert H. Schuller
• Lewis B. Smedes (1921–2002), renowned Christian author, ethicist, and theologian at Fuller Theological Seminary
• Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987), Christian philosopher, Reformed theologian, and presuppositional apologist^[56]
• Geerhardus Vos (1888–1946), professor of Biblical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary and at Princeton Theological Seminary

Fictional characters

• Nate Archibald, character from Gossip Girl
• Bridget "Bee" Vreeland, character from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
• Fox Mulder, The X-Files
• Pete Campbell, character from Mad Men
• Rex Van de Kamp, husband of Bree Van de Kamp of Desperate Housewives
• Serena van der Woodsen, one of the main cast members of Gossip Girl
• Eric van der Woodsen, character from Gossip Girl
• Gregory House, the main character from House
• Goldmember, Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
• Abigail Van Buren, notable advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips under the pen name Abigail Van Buren
• Rip Van Winkle, main protagonist in Washington Irving's short story of the same name (1819)
• Jason Voorhees, character from the Friday the 13th series
• Traci van Horne, character from Hannah Montana
• Sinjin Van Cleef, character from Victorious
• Brittany Pierce, character from Glee
• Mona Vanderwaal, character from Pretty Little Liars
• Summer van Horne, character from Make It or Break It
• Milhouse Van Houten, The Simpsons
• Moe Szyslak, The Simpsons
• William Van Den Broeck, character from Random Hearts
• Rory Jansen, character from The Words
• Mildred Pierce, character from Mildred Pierce
• Dieter Von Cunth, evil character from MacGruber

Others

• Jack Dangermond, founder of ESRI, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software company.
• Alfred Peet (1920–2007), Founder of Peet's Coffee and Tea, credited with starting the gourmet coffee revolution in the United States
• Kiliaen van Rensselaer (Dutch merchant) (fl. 1596–1643), founder and director of the Dutch West India Company and instrumental in the establishment of New Netherland

References

1. Dutch born
2. Melville "came from Dutch and English stock"
3. Vanderbilt "is of Dutch, Chilean, Spanish, and Irish descent."
4. Whitman "came from Dutch and English stock"
5. "Christina Applegate". ethnicelebs.com.
6. "Elizabeth Banks". ethnicelebs.com.
7. "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Dowling Family Genealogy". ancestry.com.
8. "Nicholas D’Agosto". ethnicelebs.com.
9. "Johnny Depp". ethnicelebs.com.
10. "Laura Dern". ethnicelebs.com.
11. "Zac Efron". ethnicelebs.com.
12. "Anna Faris". ethnicelebs.com.
13. "Richard Gere". ethnicelebs.com.
14. "German is a Dutch name, born and raised in California. Here"
15. Referred to as "Indonesian-Dutch" at , father is Dutch and mother is Indonesian
16. Grable has described herself as "Dutch, German, Irish and English"
17. "Jon Heder". ethnicelebs.com.
18. "Ed Helms". ethnicelebs.com.
19. "Sarah Hyland". ethnicelebs.com.
20. "Ancestry of Angelina Jolie". wargs.com.
21. "Tim McGraw". ethnicelebs.com.
22. "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Dowling Family Genealogy". ancestry.com.
23. "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Dowling Family Genealogy". ancestry.com.
24. described as "Dutch" by ethnicity notes that her mother, Elizabeth Kuizenga, was a second-generation Dutch American who met her father, Jaap Romijn, who was Dutch, on a trip to the Netherlands
25. "Keri Russell". ethnicelebs.com.
26. "Liev Schreiber". ethnicelebs.com.
27. "Douglas Smith". ethnicelebs.com.
28. "Gregory Smith". ethnicelebs.com.
29. "James Spader". ethnicelebs.com.
30. "David Conover's Famous Cousins - Person Page 384". conovergenealogy.com.
31. Dutch-born
32. born in Amsterdam to Dutch father and American mother, moved to the U. S. in 1987; also Jewish by heritage
33. "Formed around 1975 in Pasadena, California by Dutch brothers Eddie and Alex..."
34. "Sigourney Weaver". ethnicelebs.com.
35. "Bruce Willis". ethnicelebs.com.
36. "Howard Dean". ethnicelebs.com.
37. "Web Hosting Control Panel Login". fortklock.com.
38. "Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands awarded Congressman Vander Jagt a Knighthood in the House of Orange in 1986. The Netherlands Amity Trust Association in 1991 named him the Outstanding Dutch-American of the Year."
39. "Wealth is relative, and the value of the dollar is far from fixed. So this ranking of American plutocrats measures their total wealth as a fraction of U.S. GDP at their time of death (or for Gates, 2006)."
40. "Dutch Nobel Prize Winners". funtrivia.com.
41. Dutch-born
42. Dutch-born, naturalized U. S. citizen
43. Listing under "Famous Dutch Astronomers & Physicists"
44. Dutch born
45. Benjamin Spock - described as Dutch-American
46. "Page Not Found". jsonline.com.
47. "van den Berg, Lodewijk, born in 1932, Dutch-American astronaut."
48. "Hamels Family". ancestry.com.
49. dual Dutch-American citizen
50. Cooper "is of mostly English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry"
51. "Louis Berkhof was born in Emmen, Netherlands October 13, 1873."
52. "Anthony A. Hoekema was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States in 1923."
53. "Herman Hoeksema was born on March 12, 1886 from Johanna Bakema and Tiele Hoeksema in Hoogezand, in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands."
54. John G. Stackhouse. "Mind Over Skepticism". ChristianityToday.com.
55. raised in Dutch-American community in Dutch Reformed Church
56. "the young Van Til studied the works of fellow Dutchman, Abraham Kuyper..."