His local synagogue rewarded him for his work by expelling him.Hendrik BerlageArchitectThe father of modern Dutch architecture, Berlage advocated a return to simplicity of form and clarity of line. His theories can be seen most clearly at work in the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (1898-1903) and the Diamond Workers’ Union Building (1899-1900). An admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright, Berlage greatly influenced the Amsterdam School of architecture, and modern urban planning.Willem BarentsExplorerWillem Barents was the Dutch navigator and explorer who gave his name to the Barents Sea. His first major success came in 1969 with the television series Floris, starring his compatriot Rutger Hauer.Baruch SpinozaPhilosopherBorn in Amsterdam to a family of Portuguese-Spanish Jews, Spinoza was to become one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy He is considered the founder of modern biblical criticism.
He started making obscure documentaries while in the Dutch navy. Among his most famous works is The Garden of Earthly Delights, which shows Paradise, Earth, and Hell, with depictions of fantastic punishments.Paul VerhoevenFilm directorAmong the few Europeans to make it in the Hollywood film industry, Verhoeven is best known for violent and special-effects movies such as Starship Troopers, Robocop and Total Recall His other films include Basic Instinct. The daughter of strict Calvinist parents, Kristel has registered an IQ of 164, and completed her higher education by the age of 15. However, she took up modelling at 17.Hieronymus BoschArtistThe prolific Dutch painter was a master at depicting sin and human moral failings. His works contained complex and highly original symbolic figures and iconography, some of which became the inspiration for 20th-century surrealists. The Dutch national anthem, known as “The Wilhelmus”, commemorates him.ErasmusPriest and scholarBorn in Rotterdam, Erasmus was an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church.
He was acquainted with most of the scholars of Europe and his circle of friends was especially large in England; it included Thomas More and Henry VIII Erasmus’s works are mainly satirical and critical. Erasmus was finally brought into open conflict with Luther, and attacked his position on predestination in On the Freedom of the Will.Sylvia KristelActressSylvia Kristel starred in the title role of the 1974 movie Emmanuelle, a soft-porn exploration of the sexual awakening of a young European in Thailand that spawned a never-ending series of spin-offs. He topped it off by claiming the world’s top DJ award for the third year in a row.Mata HariDancer and spyMata Hari was the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, a Dutch exotic dancer who was accused, convicted and executed as a spy during the First World War. Born in Leeuwarden, she moved to Paris after a failed marriage, where she posed as a princess from Java and had affairs with a string of powerful men She famously declared at her trial: “Harlot, yes. But traitress? Never!”William of OrangeFather of monarchyWilliam, Prince of Orange, led a Dutch revolt against the Spanish in 1568 that set off the Eighty Years’ War and resulted in the independence of the Netherlands. A wealthy nobleman, William became unhappy with the Spanish persecution of Dutch Protestants, and turned against his former masters.
That’s quite a fillip for Tijs Verwest, whose fans insist: “Listening to his music is like going on a awesome roller-coaster ride.” This year, Ti?o has had a world tour, produced two albums, and performed at the opening of the Athens Games. He is the country’s longest-serving prime minister, and after leaving office became the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.DJ Ti?oDisc jockeyThe King of Trance was modestly billed at this summer’s Olympics as the biggest DJ in the world. Born in Rotterdam, he studied economics at the Erasmus University under the first Nobel Prize laureate in economics, Jan Tinbergen. After making a string of straight-to-video action movies, he cashed in on his hardman image by starring in a host of big-budget adverts.Ruud LubbersPoliticianPrime minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994, and politically a conservative, Lubbers was regarded by many as an heir to Margaret Thatcher. As a player, he was known for his grace, reflexes and mesmeric ball skills. The latter gave rise to the Cruyff turn, a dazzling trick even elite footballers struggle to emulate.