Add the DUTCH

[Jewman]

uhh yeaa add the dutch somebody start a petition or something, the Dutch are soooo cool but theyre like never in any game except a few cool ones but Civ would be sooo cool wit THE DUTCH from the netherlaaaaaaaaaaaaands
Soo yea add the Dutch cause they got nice ships and cuz theyre cool

civ5:STARRING: THE DUTCH

 

[Ginger_Ale]

I searched the forums and someone has made a Dutch (well, technically a Netherlands) civilization available for download right here.

 

[drkodos]

So long as their UB is the Coffee Shop, and their UU is a Privateer, they get my vote.

 

[Fierabras]

Yes, I would also vote for the Coffee Shop as UB with an extensive increase in happiness, but with a decrease in production

 

[MoonBase]

Overall, I'd have to rate this thread as not as compelling as the Poland Petition thread, but somewhat more entertaining.

 

[balthamael]

You know, If I lived in an obscure and politically insignificant country like Poland or the Netherlands, I really wouldn't be a Nationalist Fanatic.

Then again, I'm not a Nationalist as it is.

If anyone screams "ZomgZ, Aggorant Americun!" I will be very annoyed.

I'm British.

 

[MoonBase]

ZomgZ! Iggnant Briterican!

Besides, the nationalist fanatics from the Big countries are just annoying. The smaller the country, the more fanatic the nationalism, the more entertaining the righteous indignation, I always say.


Well, not always, I suppose...

 

[Willowmound]

Overall, I'd have to rate this thread as not as compelling as the Poland Petition thread, but somewhat more entertaining.

How can you not have been entertained by the Poland Petition thread? It went crazy! Lots of fun.

Well, for a while at least.

 

[Willowmound]

You know, If I lived in an obscure and politically insignificant country like Poland or the Netherlands, I really wouldn't be a Nationalist Fanatic.

Then again, I'm not a Nationalist as it is.

If anyone screams "ZomgZ, Aggorant Americun!" I will be very annoyed.

I'm British.

No no, not arrogant. Ignorant.

This game is about history.

 

[balthamael]

Ok, accuse me of ignorance. That basically makes your country and it's past seem more obscure.

I know there was an adequately powerfull Dutch Empire, mainly in the East Indies.

As far as I know, That is pretty much all your country has ever achieved.

Enlighten me further as to the great achievements of The Netherlands.

 

[Willowmound]

What's this about 'my country'. I've never been Dutch, as far as I know. Though I could do worse.

No dude, it's not my job to enlighten you. I have better things to do with my time.

 

[balthamael]

Wikpedia, Don't fail me now.

-The Dutch East India Company was the first to issue shares
-Most important trading centre in North Europe during the 80 Years War
-Founded New Amsterdam (New York)
-Had Colonies in Brazil, South Africa and the West Indies
-Survived a War with France, England and Spain at once.

That's all the great achievements I can find.

 

[Overcast32]

The more Civs the better, IMO.

But the Wife keeps whining there aren't enough females!!

 

[ArmorPierce]

For a period of time, the Dutch had the best naval fleet in Europe. Their merchant ships would travel from port to port trading in between other nations. Their stadtholder (I think that was what he was called) became king of Britain (his wife was protestant daughter to the catholic king) when parliament invited him to come "liberate" them from their catholic king. I read the wikipedia entry on the Dutch and it has a lot of important things about Dutch history missing. The Dutch definitely has a lot more right to be in the game than some of the civilizatoins that are currently in. The Zulu civilization, celts, and vikings.

Apologies to Poland, but the Netherlands definitely has a lot more right to be in the game than Poland.

 

[Dnomal]

The dutch acomplishements include *grits teeth* beating the English* in naval wars including a sale up the Thames and bombarding the grand fleet.

Aswell as resiting multiple invasrions and becoming the most properioous nation in Europe for decades due to a odd system of republicanism combined with a policy of religious tolerance, despite a lack of any sort of natural or tactical advanatage, they were in fact in a terrible position as the only way inot the Atlantic and the open sea was past the Englich Channel or Scarpa Flow, both under English/Scottish rule.

*Act of Union occured in 1805, before then there was no Britain, although England, Scotland and Wales all had one King and so were effectively one nation.

 

[Willowmound]

The Dutch definitely has a lot more right to be in the game than some of the civilizatoins that are currently in. The Zulu civilization, celts, and vikings.

Now, let's not go crazy here.

 

[drkodos]

Ok, accuse me of ignorance. That basically makes your country and it's past seem more obscure.

I know there was an adequately powerfull Dutch Empire, mainly in the East Indies.

As far as I know, That is pretty much all your country has ever achieved.

Enlighten me further as to the great achievements of The Netherlands.

Even though I am not Dutch, I feel I must respond to this blast of ignorance.


You might want to look up some of these names and see for yourself what they have contributed to the world:


Jaap Bakema (1914-1981), architect
Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934), architect
Johannes van den Broek (1898-1978), architect
Pierre Cuypers (1827-1921), architect
Willem Marinus Dudok (1884-1974), architect
Aldo van Eyck (1918-1999), architect
Rem Koolhaas (born 1944), architect
Jacobus Oud (1890-1963), architect
Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964), architect

Audrey Hepburn, (born 1929, died in 1993), actress
Jan de Bont, (born 1943), cinematographer, director (Speed)
Rene Daalder, (born 1944), director
Bracha van Doesburgh, (born 1981), actress
Bobbi Eden, (born 1980), porn-actress
Laura Gemser, (born 1950), porn-actress
Theo van Gogh, (born 1957, died 2004), director
Rutger Hauer, (born 1944), actor
Johannes Heesters, (born 1903), actor
Deidre Holland, (born 1966), porn-actress
Famke Janssen, (born 1965), actress
Jeroen Krabbé, (born 1944), actor, director
Sylvia Kristel, (born 1952), actress
Renée Soutendijk, (born 1957), actress
Johanna ter Steege, (born 1961), actress
Terri Summers, (born 1976), porn-actress
Willeke van Ammelrooy, (born 1944), actress
Monique van de Ven, (born 1952), actress
Anneliese van der Pol, (born 1984), actress
Paul Verhoeven, (born 1938), director
Zara Whites, (born 1968), porn-actress

Thomas Acda, (1967-), singer, actor
Jan Akkerman, guitar player
Amber, singer
Elly Ameling, singer classical music
Louis Andriessen, (1939-), composer
Dick Annegarn, (1952-), singer, musician
Anouk, singer
Bart Berman, pianist, composer
Marco Borsato, (1966-), singer
Willem Breuker, (born 1944), jazz musician
Herman Brood, (1946-2001), rock musician and artist
Theo Bruins, pianist, composer
Armin van Buuren, DJ
Gerard Cornielje, (born 1962), jazz musician and poet
Cristina Deutekom, singer classical music
Alphons Diepenbrock, composer
Candy Dulfer, saxophone player
Golden Earring, rock band
Tess Gaerthé, (born 1991), actress and singer
Boudewijn de Groot, (1944-), singer, actor
Alex Van Halen, drummer of Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen, guitarist of Van Halen
Matthijs Verschoor, classical pianist
André Hazes, (1951-2004), singer
Ilse Huizinga, (1966-), jazz singer
Dominique van Hulst, singer, popularly known as Do
Arjen Anthony Lucassen, composer and musician
Willem Pijper, composer
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, composer and organist
Abbie de Quant, flautist
Tim Kliphuis, jazz violinist
Ramses Shaffy, (1933-), singer
Jaap Spaanderman, pianist, cellist, conductor
Tijs Verwest, DJ (better known as DJ Tiësto)
Jelle van Tongeren Jazz violinist
Herman van Veen, (1945-), singer, theater performer
Edo de Waart, conductor
Peter Koelewijn, ( 1940- ) Founder of Dutch Rock & Roll



Bernard Accama, (d.1756), painter
Karel Appel, (1921-2006), painter
Hendrick Avercamp, (1585-1634), painter
Ludolf Backhuysen, (1631-1708), painter
Helen Berman, (1936-), painter
Hieronymus Bosch, (1450-1516), painter
Ambrosius Bosschaert, (1573-1612), painter
Jan de Bray, (1627-1697), painter
Dick Bruna, (born 1927), graphical artist
Anton Corbijn, photographer
Aelbert Cuyp, (1620-1691), painter
Theo van Doesburg, (1883-1931), painter
Willem Drost, (1630-1680), painter and print maker
M. C. Escher, (1898-1972), graphical artist
Vincent van Gogh, (1853-1890), painter
Jan van Goyen, (1596-1656), painter
Frans Hals, (1580-1666), painter
Pieter de Hooch, (1629-1684), painter
Willem de Kooning, (1904-1997), painter
Han van Meegeren, (1889-1947), forger of paintings
Piet Mondrian, (1872-1944), painter
Rembrandt van Rijn, (1606-1669), painter
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, active (1465-1495), painter
Jan Steen, (1626-1679), painter
Thierry Veltman (born 1939) painter and sculptor
Johannes Vermeer, (1632-1675), painter
Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman, (1882-1945), typographer and illustrator
Jacob de Wit, (1695-1754), painter

C. Baantjer (born 1923), writer of detective fiction
Remco Campert, novelist, poet
Jacob Cats, poet
Isabelle de Charrière, novelist
Anne Frank, Jewish diarist during World War II
Geert Groote
Arnon Grünberg, (born 1971)
Hella Haasse, novelist
Jan de Hartog (1914-2002), novelist
Willem Frederik Hermans, novelist
Xaviera Hollander, writer
Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, (1581-1647)
Constantijn Huygens
Harry Mulisch, (born 1927), novelist
Multatuli, novelist
Nescio
Cees Nooteboom, novelist
Willem Oltmans (1925-2004), journalist
Gerard Reve, novelist
Joost van den Vondel (1587-1674), poet, playwriter
Janwillem van de Wetering, (born 1931), novelist
Jan Wolkers, (born 1925)

Willem Barents, (1550?—1597), several expeditions to Arctic waters. Discovered Spitsbergen
Abraham Blauvelt (died 1663), Central America
Adriaen Block (1567-1627), New Netherlands
Hendrik Brouwer (1580-1643), discovered the Roaring Forties
Olivier Brunel (ca.1540-1585), tried to find a passage around Siberia to China
Jan Carstenszoon, (c.1595—?), New Guinea coast, navigated the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1623
Dirk Hartog, (1580—1621), VOC captain, charted mid-western coast of Australia
Jacob van Heemskerk, (1567–1607), captain of one of Barent's ships on his last fatal expedition
Cornelis de Houtman, (1565—1599), brother to Frederick, established Dutch trading route to the Spice Islands
Frederick de Houtman, (1571—1627), brother to Cornelis, charted several constellations in the southern skies, explored coast of Western Australia
Willem Janszoon, (c.1570—1630), first European expedition to make landfall on the Australian continent
Jacob Le Maire (c.1585-1616), Cape Horn, 1616 circumnavigation
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, New Jersey (1614-1620)
Olivier van Noort (1558-1627), 1598 circumnavigation
Jacob Quaeckernaeck (died 1606), reached Japan via Street of Magellan and Moluccas
Matthijs Quast (died 1641), Japan, Bonin Islands, and legendary islands East of Japan
Jan Rijp, saved remainder of Willem Barents' crew in 1597
Jakob Roggeveen (1659-1729), Easter Island
Willem Schouten (1567-1625), Cape Horn, 1616 circumnavigation
Simon van der Stel (1639-1702), explored South Africa North and East of Cape Town
Abel Tasman, (1603—1659), extensive voyages around Australia and southwest Pacific, discovered a.o. Tasmania, New Zealand & Tonga
François Thijssen, charted 1000 miles of the Australian South Coast in 1627
Alexandrine Tinné (1839-1869), Sahara desert crossing
Willem de Vlamingh (1640-17??), Western Australia
Sebald de Weert (died 1602), discovered Falkland Islands


Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, (1581-1647)
Johan Huizinga, (1872-1945)
Loe de Jong, (1914-2005)
Geert Mak, (born 1946)
Jan Romein, (1893-1962)
Petrus Scriverius, (1576-1660)


Karel Doorman, (1889-1942), naval officer
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, (1584-1647), general and stadtholder
Piet Pieterszoon Hein, (1577-1629), naval officer
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, (1567-1625), general and stadtholder
Michiel de Ruyter, (1607-1676), naval officer
Cornelis Tromp, naval officer
Maarten Tromp, (born 1598), naval officer

[edit] Philosophy
Isaac Beeckman (1588-1637)
Evert Willem Beth (1908-1964)
Herman Dooyeweerd, philosopher Vrije Universiteit
Desiderius Erasmus, writer, polemicist, humanist Protestant Reformation
Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), also lawyer, playwright, & poet
François Hemsterhuis (1721-1790)
Johannes Jacobus Poortman (1896-1970)
Baruch Spinoza, (1632-1677), philosopher

[edit] Politics

[edit] Before 20th century
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, (1584-1647), general and stadtholder
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, (1567-1625), general and stadtholder
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, (1547-1619), statesman
Johan Rudolf Thorbecke, (1798-1872), prime minister
William the Silent, (1533-1584), stadtholder
William III of Orange, (1650-1702), stadtholder and king of England
Johan de Witt, (1625-1672), statesman

[edit] 20th-21st century
Dries van Agt, (1931-), Dutch prime-minister (1977-1982)
Jan Peter Balkenende, (born 1956), prime minister (2002-)
Louis Beel, (1902-1977), prime minister
Barend Biesheuvel, (1920-2001), prime minister
Hans van den Broek, (born 1936), foreign minister, European Commission member
Jo Cals, (1914-1971), prime minister
Hendrikus Colijn, (1869-1944), prime minister
Pieter Cort van der Linden, (1846-1935), prime minister
Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, (1846–1919)
Willem Drees, (1886-1988), prime minister (1948-1958)
Wim Duisenberg, (1935–2005), minister, president European Central Bank
Pim Fortuyn, (1948-2002), politician, assassinated in 2002 elections
Cornelis van Geelkerken, (1901-1979) national-socialist, co-founder of the Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging
Dirk Jan de Geer, (1870-1960), prime minister
Jan Heemskerk, prime minister
Hans Janmaat, (1934-2002), right-wing nationalist party leader
Piet de Jong, (born 1915), prime minister
Wim Kok, (born 1938), prime minister (1994-2002)
Abraham Kuyper, prime minister
Ruud Lubbers, prime minister (1982-1994), UNHCR High Commissioner (2001-2005)
Joseph Luns, minister of foreign affairs, NATO Secretary General
Victor Marijnen, prime minister
Anton Mussert, (1894-1946), national-socialist, leader of the Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging
Pieter Oud, (1886-1966) leader and founder of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Jan de Quay, (1901-1985) prime minister
Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, (1873, 1936), prime minister
Pieter Jelles Troelstra
Joop den Uyl, (1919-1987), prime minister (1973-1977)
Hans Wiegel, (1941), minister of home affairs, vice-prime minister, Commissioner of the Queen
Jelle Zijlstra, (1918-2001), prime minister

[edit] Royal Family
Beatrix of the Netherlands (born 1938)
Prince Claus (1926-2002)
Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Princess Irene of the Netherlands (born 1939)
Juliana of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880-1962), Queen
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (born 1943)
Princess Christina of the Netherlands (born 1947)
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands (born 1971)
Prince Johan-Friso of Orange-Nassau
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands (born 1969)
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (born 2003)
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands (born 2005)

[edit] Science and technology

[edit] Before 20th century
Daniel Bernoulli, (1700-1782), mathematician and physicist
Herman Boerhaave, (1668-1738), physician
C.H.D. Buys Ballot, (1817-1890), chemist & meteorologist
Ludolph van Ceulen, (1540-1610), mathematician
Laurens Janszoon Coster, (1370-1440), printer
Cornelius Drebbel, (1572-1633), inventor & engineer
Eise Eisinga, (1744-1828), astronomer
David Fabricius, (1564-1617), astronomer
Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, (1852-1911), chemist
Christiaan Huygens, (1629-1695), mathematician and physicist
Anton van Leeuwenhoek, (1632-1723), scientist
Frans van Schooten, (1615-1660), mathematician
Willebrord Snell, (1580-1626), astronomer & mathematician
Simon Stevin, (1548-1620), mathematician & engineer
Thomas Joannes Stieltjes, (1856-1894), mathematician
Jan Swammerdam, (1637-1680), scientist
Gustav de Vries, (1866-1934), mathematician
Hugo de Vries, (1848-1937), geneticist
Johannes Diderik van der Waals, (1837-1923), physicist

[edit] Twentieth century
Wiebe Bijker, (1951), Social Scientist
Nicolaas Bloembergen, (1920-), physicist
Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer, (1881-1966), mathematician
Nicolaas Govert de Bruijn, (191, mathematician
Hendrik Casimir, (1909-2000), physicist
Paul J. Crutzen, (1933-), atmospheric chemist
David van Dantzig, (1900-1959), mathematician
Peter Debye, (1884-1966), chemist
Robbert Dijkgraaf, (1960-), physicist
Edsger Dijkstra, (1930-2002), computer scientist
David Adriaan van Dorp, (1915-1995), chemist
Eugène Dubois, (1858-1944), paleontologist & anatomist
Christiaan Eijkman, (1858-1930), physician & pathologist
Willem Einthoven, (1860-1927), physician
Richard Gill, (1951-), mathematician
Anthony Fokker, (1890-1939), aviation engineer
Valerie Frissen, (1960), Social Scientist
Arend Heyting, (1898-1980), mathematician
Gerardus 't Hooft, (born 1946), physicist
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, (1853-1926), physicist
Jacobus Kapteyn, (1851-1922), astronomer
Willem Hendrik Keesom, (1878-1956), physicist
Pieter Kok, (1972-), physicist
Tjalling Koopmans, (1910-1985), economist
Gerard Kuiper, (1905-1973), astronomer
Hendrik Lorentz, (1853-1928), physicist
Simon van der Meer, (1925-), physicist
Bram Moolenaar, computer programmer, author of text-editor Vim
Wubbo Ockels, (1946-), astronaut
Jan Oort, (1900-1992), astronomer
Anton Pannekoek, (1873-1960), astronomer
Guido van Rossum, computer programmer, inventor of the Python programming language
Carel van Schaik, primatologist
Maarten Schmidt, (1929-), astronomer
Willem de Sitter, (1872-1934), mathematician, physicist & astronomer
Jan Tinbergen, (1903-1994), economist
Nico Tinbergen, (1907-1988), ecologist
Martinus J. G. Veltman, (born 1931), physicist
Bartel Leendert van der Waerden, (1903-1996), mathematician
Pieter Zeeman, (1865-1943), physicist
Frits Zernike, (1888-1966), physicist

[edit] Supermodels
Daniella van Graas, (born 1975)
Rianne ten Haken, (born 1986)
Querelle Jansen, (born 1985)
Doutzen Kroes, (born 1985)
Karen Mulder, (born 1970)
Yfke Sturm, (born 1981)
Mark Vanderloo, (born 1968)
Frederique van der Wal, (born 1967)
Wilhelmina Cooper (1940–March 1, 1980)

[edit] Sports
Josh Wu (born 1979), Formula 1 driver
Raymond van Barneveld (born 1967), darts player
Marco van Basten (born 1964), football player and manager
Stan van Belkum (born 1961), water polo player
Carina Benninga (born 1962), field hockey player
Dennis Bergkamp (born 1969), football player
Det de Beus (born 1958), field hockey goalkeeper
Ahmed Abdallah (1918-2004), athlete
Rens Blom (born 1977), 2005 World Champion pole vault
Mohammed Abdallah (born 1970), football player
Ronald de Boer (born 1970), football player
Floris Jan Bovelander (born 1966), field hockey player
Mart Bras (born 1950), water polo player
Jacques Brinkman (born 1966), field hockey player
Kareem Moslehy (born 1975), football player
Inge de Bruijn (born 1974), swimmer
Ton Buunk (born 1952), water polo player
Johan Cruijff (born 1947), football player and manager
Edgar Davids (born 1973), football player
Marc Delissen (born 1965), field hockey player
Cees Jan Diepeveen (born 1956), field hockey player
Robert Doornbos (born 1981), Formula 1 driver
Sjoukje Dijkstra, figure skater
Jacco Eltingh (born 1970), tennis player
Max Euwe (1901-1981), chess player
Louis van Gaal (born 1951), football player and manager
Dan Gadzuric (born 1978), NBA player
Anton Geesink (born 1934), judoka
Yvonne van Gennip (born 1964), speed skater
Anky van Grunsven (born 1968), dressage
Ruud Gullit (born 1962), football player and coach
Paul Haarhuis (born 1966), tennis player
Willem van Hanegem (born 1944), football player and coach
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (born 1972), football player
Guus Hiddink (born 1946), football player and manager
Ellen Hoog (born 1986), field hockey player
Pieter van den Hoogenband (born 1978), swimmer
Ernesto Hoost (born 1965), kickboxer
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (born 1983), football player
Jan Janssen (born 1940), cyclist
Jelle Klaasen (born 1984), darts player
Bep van Klaveren (1907-1992), boxer
Patrick Kluivert (born 1976), football player
Ronald Koeman (born 1963), football player and manager
Ada Kok (born 1947), swimmer
Richard Krajicek (born 1971), tennis player
Ties Kruize (born 1952), field hockey player
Nico Landeweerd (born 1954), water polo player
Ellen van Langen (born 1966), athlete
Arie Luyendyk (born 1953), race car driver
Rie Mastenbroek (1919-2003), swimmer
Leontien van Moorsel (born 1970), cyclist
Ruud van Nistelrooy (born 1976), football player
Teun de Nooijer (born 1976), field hockey player
Tom Okker (born 1944), tennis player
Tinus Osendarp (1916-2002), athlete
Robin van Persie (born 1983), football player
Frank Rijkaard (born 1962), football player and manager
Lucia Rijker (born 1967), boxer and kickboxer
Rintje Ritsma (born 1970), speed skater
Arjen Robben (born 1984), football player
Gianni Romme (born 1973), speed skater
Wim Ruska (born 1940), judoka
Edwin van der Sar (born 1970), football player
Ard Schenk (born 1944), speed skater
Clarence Seedorf (born 1976), football player
Emil Sitoci (born 1985), showwrestler
Rutger Smith (born 1981), athlete
Rik Smits (born 1966), NBA player
Petra van Staveren (born 1966), swimmer
Betty Stöve (born 1945), tennis player
Carole Thate (born 1971), field hockey player
Jan Timman (born 1951), chess player
Regilio Tuur (born 1967), boxer
Jochem Uytdehaage (born 1976), speed skater
Arnold Vanderlyde (born 1963), boxer
Bart Veldkamp (born 1967), speed skater
Kees Verkerk (born 1942), speed skater
Martin Verkerk (born 1978), tennis player
Jos Verstappen (born 1972), A1 Grand Prix racing driver
Bert van Vlaanderen (born 1964), long-distance runner
Harm Wiersma (born 1953), checkers player
Hans Wouda (born 1941), water polo player
Marcel Wouda (born 1972), swimmer
Joop Zoetemelk (born 1946), cyclist

[edit] Other
Pope Adrian VI, (1522-1523), pope from 1522 to 1523
Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, (1890-2005), oldest person in world May 2004 to Aug 30, 2005
Corrie ten Boom, Christian activist during the Holocaust
Evert Dudok, president of EADS Astrium Space Transportation
Gretta Duisenberg, pro-Palestinian activist and the wife of Wim Duisenberg
Hugo de Groot, jurist
Marinus van der Lubbe, (1909-1934), see: Reichstag fire
Mata Hari, spy
Anton Philips, co-founder of the Royal Philips Electronics
Gerard Philips, (1858-1942), co-founder of the Royal Philips Electronics
Roel Pieper, (1956-), businessman and professor
Jan Sloot, inventor
Peter Stuyvesant, (1592-1672), governor of the New Netherlands
Frans van der Hoff (1939-), Co-founder of Max Havelaar, the first Fairtrade certification initiative
Arnold Verhoeven, (1955-) danceteacher, tv host, writer and businessman

 

[SLM]

A Dutchman myself I would like the Dutch to be primarily know for men like:

Ruyter, Michiel Adriaanszoon de (1607-1676), Dutch naval commander, born in Flushing. During the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-1654), he distinguished himself against the English, while serving under the Dutch admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp. In 1653, de Ruyter became vice-admiral of Holland, and during the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1664-1667) he defeated the English in the Four Days' Battle fought near Dunkerque, France, in 1666. In June of 1667, de Ruyter conducted a daring expedition up the River Medway in England, destroying Upnor Castle and burning a great number of English ships. As admiral in chief of the Dutch fleet during the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1678), he saved the fleet from destruction by English and French ships in the Battle of Southwold Bay off the English coast in 1672, and prevented an allied invasion of Holland in 1673. De Ruyter was fatally wounded in a battle against the French fleet near Sicily in 1676.

© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

.. but in general how a small and seemingly insignificant country had a tremendous amount of influence on the world through arts, science, seafaring, navigation, trade, craftsmanship and naval warfare.

Another quote from Encarta:

At its height, however, the Dutch Empire consisted of the East Indies (Indonesia); Borneo; Ceylon (Sri Lanka); South Africa; important trading posts at Dejima (Nagasaki) in Japan; Formosa (Taiwan) and Canton in China; Bengal, the Coromandel Coast, the Malabar Coast, and Surat in India; Mokka, Basra, and Gamron in Arabia and Persia; slaving ports on the African Gold Coast; half a dozen Caribbean islands (some of them strategically important); New Netherlands (New York State and its environs) in North America; a string of plantation colonies on the north-eastern coast of South America (Demarary, the Essequibo region, Berbice; and, later, Guyana, and later still Suriname), and Brazil. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, it was one of the greatest maritime empires the world had ever known, all the more remarkable because it was run from a tiny low-lying republic squeezed in between the major dynastic powers of northern Europe.

© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

[hookmonkey]

Dutch made the first steps to legalising cannabis

 

[Willowmound]

Even though I am not Dutch, I feel I must respond to this blast of ignorance.

You might want to look up some of these names and see for yourself what they have contributed to the world:

[etc, etc, etc...]

I think you just listed every Dutch person who ever lived.