Top 10 Best Dutch Soccer Players of All Time

Dutch football is special. The passing is smooth, the technique is sharp, and the players often look like they're playing chess while everyone else is just chasing the ball. The Netherlands might not have the most trophies in the game, but what they do have is a long history of players who completely changed how football is played.

From the glory days of Total Football in the 1970s to today's stars lighting up club and international competitions, Dutch players have always brought something different to the pitch. It's not just about wild goals or flashy footwork either. Some were midfield generals who could control the pace of a match, others were cold-blooded finishers, and a few had such close control it looked like the ball was following them around on a leash.

Take a scroll through, think about the legends, and vote for the ones who earned your respect.

The Top Ten

Johan Cruyff

Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (April 25, 1947 - March 24, 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Cruyff was a leading figure in the development of Total Football, a tactical approach popularized by Rinus Michels... read more

He saw things other players could only dream of: passing, scoring, dribbling, close ball control - unbelievable. He also played at a time when a defender's job was, if you can't stop a man legally, kick the living daylights out of him. Cruyff just evaded them most of the time.
You never saw any theatrical rolling about like you see in the modern game today. It seems sometimes that strikers only have to feel the breath of a defender on their back, and they'll go down. Results have become so important, with billions of pounds riding on winning the European Champions League. Who wouldn't take a dive?

He changed football worldwide. To think he did not participate in the second World Cup final in Argentina. Even without him, Holland made the final game but lost to Argentina, the host country. That made two World Cup finals Holland lost in the final game to the host nation.
He was voted Player of the 1974 World Cup and, in a poll, was voted European Player of the Century. He was something else. Glad I saw him play.
Dennis Bergkamp

Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp is a Dutch former professional footballer. He was previously the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax but left the role in December 2017 following a coaching reshuffle. During his playing days, he became an Arsenal legend and helped them secure their famous undefeated... read more

Simon Kuper of the Financial Times wrote in 2006: "One night last year, some legends of Dutch football gathered for dinner in an Amsterdam house. Around midnight, the conversation turned to an old question: who was the best Dutch footballer ever? Dutchmen have been voted European Footballer of the Year seven times, more than any other nationality except Germans. Yet Jan Mulder, a great center-forward turned writer, chose a player who had never even threatened to win the award nor, at the time, a Champions League: 'Bergkamp.' He had the finest technique, said Mulder. Guus Hiddink, the great Dutch manager, nodded, and so the matter was settled."
Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben is a retired Dutch professional footballer who played for Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team. He won the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2013 and was a runner-up in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands. Known for his trademark move of cutting inside from... read more

Amazing dribbling skills, second-best dribbler in the world right after Messi. Has the best foot I have ever seen (his left). Insane speed and stamina. Great playmaker, creating tons of chances - 151 chances created in 18.6 Bundesliga matches in 2014/2015. His threat level pulls defenders like bees to him.
I think he is, after Cruyff, the best player, maybe tied with van Basten. He suffers from injuries on a severe level just like van Basten. If he were never injured, I have no doubt he would be the best in the world, which now is Messi.

Robben is the best ball handler in the world. He has fewer goals than Cruijff in his career, but he has also been playing in the top leagues for 15 years. Cruijff was in a top league for six years total.
Cruijff has influenced the game more, but not as the best "player." Sure, Cruijff was the Ballon d'Or winner three times, but think of this: in 1974 he won it with 16 goals in 26 appearances for Barcelona that season. In the 2016-17 season for Bayern, Robben had 16 goals in 26 appearances, and where was he in Ballon d'Or voting? Not even a candidate to get votes. Just a different time.
Marco van Basten

Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former professional player. He played as a forward for Ajax and AC Milan, and he was one of the standout strikers for the Netherlands national team during the 1980s and early 1990s. Van Basten is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers... read more

Pure killer. When looking purely at scoring goals and nothing else, he might be the greatest in history - not just in the Netherlands but in the world. The only reason he isn't number one is because football also has other aspects next to scoring. But he mastered the most important one for a striker: scoring, making him top 3 in this list.

The second-best player for this team on my list. He was a volleyer, winning the Ballon d'Or three times. His performance in the 1988 Euro was great. A hat trick against England, a last-minute slide goal against West Germany, and the best volley ever against the Soviet Union.
Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie is a Dutch coach and former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer for the Netherlands men's national team and is considered one of the best strikers of his generation.... read more

Most all-around complete player in Dutch football history, in my opinion, with an amazing knack for scoring goals and great footwork. He could honestly play as a striker, winger, center mid/attacking mid, or defensive mid and excel at any of them. Also, he has the most goals scored in Dutch national team history.

Robin van Persie is a wonderful footballer, and he is able to score very classy goals. Easily the best player in the national team.

Van Persie is my favorite player, but he was better with Arsenal and Manchester United. His volleying is almost as good as Marco van Basten's.
Ruud Gullit

Ruud Gullit is a Dutch former professional footballer and manager who played as a midfielder or forward during the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his versatility and strength and played for clubs such as Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, and Chelsea. Gullit won the Ballon d'Or in 1987 and captained... read more

I always loved Ruud's distinctive look. Of course, being a powerful player with versatility and strength in the air as well as classy skills made him certainly a top-five player in Dutch football history. Most other similar lists rate him from 3rd to 5th best.
Cruyff, van Basten, and possibly Bergkamp were better players than the 1988 European Championship-winning captain. As noted before, he also won European Footballer of the Year and dedicated the 1987 award to Nelson Mandela while Mandela was still in prison. A class act as a footballer.

Captains Holland to its only trophy, revives Milan when Van Basten was injured against a rampant Napoli, and is voted World Footballer twice and European Footballer twice. He has to be third on the list, battling with Van Basten for second. Bergkamp was great but not in the same league as Cruyff, VB, or Gullit.
Ruud van Nistelrooy

He just had the ability to score from numerous positions. He had such a calm head in big games. One of the greatest goal scorers of all time. Unfortunately, he is massively underrated by everyone, but he shouldn't be.

Of course! The best Dutch goal-scorer of all time. His sense is superb. Unfortunately, he is very underrated, though it's obvious to the wise fans that Ruud is the best scoring machine of the Dutchmen.

Thanks to whoever wrote this page for including Ruud van Nistelrooy as the 1st. On a FIFA game, you should check out Holland or Be a Pro. Play with Ruud. He's awesome!
Wesley Sneijder

Wesley Sneijder is a retired Dutch professional footballer. He played for major clubs including Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Galatasaray. Sneijder was also a prominent member of the Netherlands national team, earning over 130 caps during his international career.

He pretty much single-handedly took Holland to the World Cup final. Also, he made an amazing pass against Spain to set up Robben, who then screwed up an absolute sitter of a chance by kicking it into Casillas' foot.

Most involved playmaker in Dutch football of all time, in my opinion. Maybe not quite as quick or skilled as Cruyff, but he is a better passer and is a free-kick ace.

His performance in the 2010 World Cup made me his fan. I have nothing to say about him. Just awesome.
Edwin van der Sar

He has made some of the best saves that I have ever seen!

Now, this is something: he even scored goals as a goalie!

The best Dutch goalie... attacking-minded.
Clarence Seedorf

The unique player to have won the UEFA Champions League with 3 different clubs: Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan (twice)!

Outstanding midfielder. So much class and one of the most complete of his time.

The Newcomers

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Frenkie de Jong
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Phillip Cocu

The Contenders

Patrick Kluivert

Are you serious? Patrick is not even top 5? This is craziness. He reached the 40-goal mark while playing fewer games than Van Persie. He was also the all-time goal scorer of the national team at a younger age. He was naturally gifted, a better scorer, he could pass, and his one-touch play was amazing.
He was way more technical than Van Nistelrooy. I like Van Nistelrooy, but Kluivert was way better. Without injury, Kluivert would have been one of the all-time top scorers in football history.

Are you serious? How could you omit Patrick Kluivert? Your list has to be redone. I am American, and I know Dutch soccer well. Patrick Kluivert was one of the finest Dutch strikers. In my opinion, he was better than Van Nistelrooy, who is just a goal poacher. Kluivert was an all-around striker, and he is the top Dutch striker with 40 goals before he even reached 30.
Ronald Koeman

Most scoring defender in all of history. Should be higher on this list. The only reason he doesn't get my vote is because I can only vote once, and that vote goes to the Dutch master, Cruyff.
Johan Neeskens

People are voting without seeing the games and without knowing soccer history. He is the best creative player the Dutch have ever produced.

Probably the second-best player in the Dutch team of '74. Should be higher up the list.

Should be second (after Cruijff). I would have Ruud Krol at number 3 and Rensenbrink at 4. These players personified that orange team of total football.
Dirk Kuyt

The working class, best kind of player. Never stopped giving everything at Liverpool. Wish he'd stuck around.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

This attacker has been going around, scoring goals, making caps, and helping his team. I think that you should redo this list and put Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 8th on the list!

Jimmy's goal scoring was magic. He seemed never to rush when he scored and was in a league of his own.
Frank Rijkaard

One of the most elegant players ever, especially for a player who made his name in defense and midfield. One of the best of the game ever. Also, a class act, as he returned to Ajax at the end of his career to finish it there.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Don't know why The Hunter is not utilized as much as Sneijder, Robben, and Van Persie. He is just 10 goals short of breaking Van Persie's record and 5 goals short of being the second-highest Dutch goal scorer. He gets very rare chances to compete, but if given a chance, there is always an 80% chance of Hunter scoring, whether it's a league game or a national game.

Best Holland striker available but rarely gets the chance.

He has a better match-to-goals ratio for his country. Even better than Van Persie.
Memphis Depay

Freekick ability like David Beckham and a teammate of Wesley Sneijder at the 2014 World Cup, who was responsible for set pieces and freekicks. I hope Memphis Depay can work hard for Holland in Euro 2020 qualification for positive results.

Good dribbling 86%, sprint speed 88%, long shots distance 85%, amazing freekick ability 94%. Supersub attack winger in Euro 2020 and FIFA World Cup 2022.
Frank de Boer

He made a brilliant pass to Dennis Bergkamp that went right over the field. Then Bergkamp flicked it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net!
Willem van Hanegem

One percent is a bloody shame!
Best midfield player Holland ever had!

Underrated! Know your Dutch football!
Edgar Davids

He was an amazing footballer with lots of talent and beloved work.
Virgil van Dijk
Marc Overmars
Mark van Bommel

One of the finest in the business and a cheerful and talented striker.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst