The best Dutch Actors/Actresses

Blond, blue-eyed, tall and handsome Dutch actor Rutger Hauer enjoyed an international reputation for playing everything from romantic leads to action heroes to sinister villains. Hauer was born in Breukelen, a Dutch town and former municipality in the province of Utrecht.

He was the son of Teunke Hauer (née Mellema) and Arend Hauer, actors who operated an acting school. As his parents were often touring, he and his three sisters were raised by a nanny. A bit of a rebel during his childhood, he chafed at the rules and rigors of school and was often getting into mischief. His grandfather had been the captain of a schooner and at age fifteen, Hauer ran away to work on a freighter for a year. Like his great-grandfather, Hauer was color-blind, which prevented him from furthering his career as a sailor.

Upon his return he attended night school and started working in the construction industry. When he again bombed at school, his parents enrolled him in drama classes. An amateur poet, he spent most of his time writing poetry and hanging out in Amsterdam coffee houses instead of studying. He was expelled for poor attendance and afterward spent a brief period in the Dutch navy.

Deciding he didn't like military life, Hauer honed his acting skills trying to convince his superiors he was mentally unfit and was sent to a special home for psych patients. It was an unpleasant place, but Hauer remained there until he had convinced his ranking officers that the military really did not need him.

Jeroen Krabbe was born in Amsterdam to a family of painters. His grandfather was a famous impressionist, his father a talented artist and his mother a qualified interpreter responsible for translating Dutch films into English. He was destined to be a painter but after high school and a year of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts decided at 17 to change to acting and became the youngest pupil to be accepted at Toneel School - the Academy of Performing Arts'. He graduated in 1965 and spent 6 years in repertory theatre distinguishing himself in classical and contemporary roles such as Bierowne in 'Loves Labours Lost', Cassio in 'Othello' and Chance Wayne in 'Sweet Bird of Youth'. In the early 7-'s he formed his own theatre group and toured in such as 'Relatively Speaking'and 'How the Other Half Loves'. He established himself at the top of the tree when he directed'The Diary of Anne Frank'in which he starred as Otto Frank which became one of the biggest successes of the Dutch stage.He also had his own chat show on Dutch television and a music programme on radio. After playing a leading role in Paul Verhoeven's 'Soldier of Orange' on radio he left for America to play opposite Rock Hudson in the television series 'World War Three' then two films with Paul Verhoeven 'spotters' and Fourth Man' His performance in the latter won him the 'Vittorio de Sica prize in Italy and a special award at the film festival at Avoriazi in Spain. He decided to return to the academy of Fine Arts to see how good a painter he was . After 3 years of painting, filming and stage acting he graduated from the academy and decided to quit the theatre in favour of painting and film making. He was given an exhibition together with his father and grandfather at the Singler Museum in Laren which was a huge success and established him as a true painter.

Famke Janssen was born November 5, 1964, in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, and has two other siblings. Moving to America in the 1980s, she modeled for Chanel in New York. Later, taking a break from modeling, she attended Columbia University, majoring in literature.

This model-turned-actress broke into Hollywood in the early 1990s. Her first film was Fathers & Sons (1992). Later she became James Bond's enemy in GoldenEye (1995). Her career has bloomed since then with her starring in such films as House on Haunted Hill (1999), Hide and Seek (2005), a recurring role on FX's Nip/Tuck (2003), and the blockbuster movies X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

At the age of twelve, Tygo was seen on television for the first time in a promotion video to get the Olympic Games to the Netherlands. His role in the youth series Fort Alpha (1996) made him famous in the Netherlands. After that, many guest appearances followed, as well as leading parts in television series like De garage (2000), Van Speijk (2006) and Schnitzelparadijs - De serie (2008). Tygo starred in feature films Wasted! (1996), De dominee (2004), A Thousand Kisses (2006) and Dunya & Desie (2008). For his leading role in the feature film Godforsaken (2003), Tygo was granted with a Golden Calf (the Dutch Oscars) for Best Actor in 2003. In 2005 he won a Golden Calf for his role in the feature film Het schnitzelparadijs (2005), but this time he shared the award with his four co-stars.

On stage, he is starring the leading role in the successful theatre production RAAF (2009).

Tygo is a professional voice actor, giving sound to many Disney animation characters.

Monique van de Ven was born on 28 July 1952 in Zeeland, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. She is an actress and director, known for Romeo (1990), Ademloos (1982) and Amsterdamned (1988). She has been married to Edwin de Vries since 1991. They have two children. She was previously married to Jan de Bont.

Derek de Lint was born on 17 July 1950 in The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Derek is an actor and director, known for Soldier of Orange (1977), Black Book (2006) and Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996). Derek has been married to Dorith Jessurun since 1979. They have three children.

Frank Lammers is a Dutch actor and director. He was born in Mierlo in the south of Holland. After graduating drama academy in Amsterdam in 1995, he started his career as a theatre actor. First at Toneelgroep Amsterdam, followed by 2 years in the ensemble of the RO theater, in Rotterdam and 3 years at the NNT in Groningen. He was awarded an Arlequino, the most prestigious Dutch theatre award for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in "Onder Mannen". In 1999 he played his break out role in the film "Wilde Mossels". Since then, he has played in over a 100 film and series. He is a five time nominee for the 'Golden Calf', the most prestigious Dutch Film Award, winning the award twice for Best TV Actor. He has also won several international awards at various festivals Next to his work as an actor, Frank is also a director. He directed three films: "Of ik gek ben" and the films "Groeten van Gerrie" and "Herrie in Huize Gerri", both produced during the pandemic. Internationally, Frank is best known for his role as "Ferry Bouman" in the Netflix hit-series"Undercover" and the spin-off film "Ferry". Frank is married, has two children and is currently living in Amsterdam.

Jack Wouterse was born on 17 June 1957 in Soest, Utrecht, Netherlands. He is an actor and director, known for Vet hard (2005), All stars: De serie (1999) and Gangsterboys (2010).

Rijk de Gooyer was born on 17 December 1925 in Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. He was an actor and writer, known for Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), In voor- en tegenspoed (1991) and Beppie (1989). He was married to Tonny Domburg. He died on 2 November 2011 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.

In his early career he often played tormented/troubled characters such as in De Witte Waan, as a death-seeking junkie (1984), and in Zoeken Naar Eileen (1987) as a desperately in love, and in De Avonden (1989) playing Frits van Egters. An often quoted phrase of Hoffman is "I have a dark look on human motives", dating from his debut film Luger (1982) under direction of Theo van Gogh. He also considers himself more "a hardworking man than a gifted actor" as well as someone "who is hard to put in one category." He played main roles in more than sixty movies and TV-series, with directors ranging from Sally Potter, Harry Kumel, Lars Von Trier, Paul Verhoeven to the radical South-African filmmaker Ian Kerkhof. Many Years since The Fourth Man (1982) and his awarded role in Avonden, De (1989), Verhoeven's movie Blackbook put him back in the international arena. Hoffman also directed several documentaries about filmmakers he admires, and is a successful photographer. In 2004 French star Jeanne Moreau officially received the first copy of Hoffman's book "FOTO's Thom Hoffman" during the international Ghent Film Festival. In 1998 Hoffman worked with Don van Dijke in the theater play "Publieksbeschimping; De Gasten Komen".

Peter Faber was born on 9 October 1943 in Schwarzenbach, Germany. He is an actor and composer, known for A Bridge Too Far (1977), Soldier of Orange (1977) and Duel in de diepte (1979). He is married to Martine ?. He was previously married to Shireen Strooker.

Thomas Acda has achieved an unparalleled popularity in Dutch pop culture over the last 30 years as a singer-songwriter, half of the duo Acda & De Munnik. Thomas has played in several series including All Stars & Zonen (2023, NPO), Van der Valk(2022, ITV), KLEM (2020, NPO), and Jeuk (2014-2017, NPO), as well as films such as Alles is Liefde (2006), Chez Nous (2013), and De Zevende Hemel (2016). In 2017, he played the role of Tevye on stage in Fiddler on the Roof, which earned him the Musical Award for Best Male Lead. In addition to being an actor and musician, Thomas is also director and writer of several novels.

Daan Schuurmans is one of the most talented and acclaimed actors of The Netherlands. When Daan was chosen as a Shooting Star (Europe's leading young talent) at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2003, he was already well known to Dutch audiences from his starring roles in box-office hits like 'Costa' and 'Floris'.

In the next few years, Daan played a diverse range of leading film roles.

In 2010, he starred in the celebrated television miniseries 'Bernhard, Schavuit van Oranje' for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the Monte Carlo Television Festival and 'Annie M.G'. For his roles in both mini-series, he won the Netherlands Beeld and Geluid Award. Daan also was nominated for the Rembrandt award for best actor for his roles in 'Terug naar de kust' (2009), 'Mannenharten' (2013) and 'Het diner' (2013).

In 2012 he made his directing debut with an episode of 'Van God Los'.

After his star turn in 2014 as the debonair Valentijn Bentinck in 'Heer en Meester', he was chosen in 2014 as Best Actor by his peers and received the Gouden Notenkraker.

In 2006, 10 years after completing the Theatre Academy in Maastricht, he returned to the stage and performed with the prestigious National Theatre, Het Toneel Speelt and, most recently, toured the Netherlands in Lars Noren's 'Demons'.

More recently Daan played the lead in the Dutch remake of 'Sé Quien Eres' (Ik Weet Wie Je Bent) and in the controversial series 'Mocro Maffia' based on the book by journalist Wouter Laumans about the Amsterdam mobs and their drugs war. Early this year, Daan worked on the new Costa Gavras film 'Adults in the room' which will open at the Venice International Film Festival. Currently he's shooting for the historical mini-series 'Turbulent Skies'.

Esquire magazine named Daan the best actor of his generation.

Willeke van Ammelrooy was born on 5 April 1944 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. She is an actress and director, known for The Lake House (2006), Antonia's Line (1995) and 't Schaep Met De 5 Pooten (1969). She has been married to Marco Bakker since 20 November 1989.

Antonie Kamerling was born on 25 August 1966 in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands. He was an actor, known for Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), Goede tijden, slechte tijden (1990) and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005). He was married to Isa Hoes. He died on 6 October 2010 in Zevenhoven, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

Huub Stapel was born on 2 December 1954 in Tegelen, Limburg, Netherlands. He is an actor and producer, known for Amsterdamned (1988), De Partizanen (1995) and Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997). He has been married to Resie Jansen since 2 December 2004. They have two children.

Hidde Maas was born on 29 July 1944 in Groenekan, Utrecht, Netherlands. He is an actor, known for Amsterdamned (1988), Sil de strandjutter (1976) and Spijkerhoek (1989).

Halina Reijn is a renowned director, actress, author and producer. She is the winner of multiple awards, including the Dutch film Award, the Golden Calf for Best Actress , the Dutch theater awards Theo D'Or and Colombina, as well as the Courbois pearl, an oeuvre award which honours an actress who has made an indelible impression, both on stage as in film and television. Since 2017 she is also the proud owner of the Theo Mann-Bouwmeester Ring, an award to honour an actress who has contributed greatly to the Dutch theatre.

Her critically acclaimed directorial feature film debut INSTINCT (2019), starring Carice van Houten (GAME OF THRONES) and Marwan Kenzari (ALADDIN) has been selected for film festivals in Locarno (winner Variety Piazza Grande Award and special mention First Feature Competition), Toronto (world cinema competition), BFI Londen (Sutherland competition), Gent and Chicago, and is the foreign language Oscar submission of The Netherlands. INSTINCT is the first outing for Man Up, the production banner of Halina and Carice. MAN UP's goal is to create films and television drama with high current value and relevance, told from a female perspective. To explore darker, edgy stories that, through shame or fear, often remain untold. Quality, artistic integrity and openness to their audiences defines the productions of MAN UP.

Halina was professionally trained at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts and in 1997 debuted on stage as Ophelia in Hamlet, directed by Theu Boermans. She continued to act on stage in such productions as Shopping & Fucking, Three Sisters, Mourning Becomes Electra, Hedda Gabler, La Voix Humaine, The Fountainhead and recently Obsession, opposite Jude Law. Halina works with internationally acclaimed director Ivo van Hove at the International Theatre Amsterdam, performing their plays all over the world. She starred in the Oscar nominated film ZUS & ZO, in Paul Verhoeven's critically acclaimed BLACK BOOK and in Bryan Singer's VALKYRIE, opposite Tom Cruise. She can also be seen in the Swedish series CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE, directed by Charlotte Brändström.

In 2005, her first novel Prinsesje Nooitgenoeg (Prometheus) debuted, followed by Halina: doen alsof ik iemand anders ben (Prometheus, 2009), Antiglamour (co-written with Carice van Houten, Nijgh & Van Ditmar, 2013), and Loos (Nijgh & Van Ditmar, 2016). She is working on film scripts and television series based on original ideas. In 2019, Halina was named one of 20 most influential people in the Dutch media by a leading Dutch newspaper. She writes columns for Dutch and Belgian magazines and newspapers and is regularly a co-host on one of the best watched daily news shows on Dutch TV.

One of Europe's most celebrated actresses, Carice van Houten is perhaps best known as 'Melisandre' in the iconic TV show Game of Thrones, a performance for which she has been recognized with an Emmy Award nomination in 2019. Other projects include Paul Verhoeven's award-winning Black Book and Bryan Singer's Valkyrie opposite Tom Cruise and as Melisandre on Game of Thrones. Recent projects include Instinct and Temple, a TV show for Sky opposite Mark Strong, which has been picked up for a second season.

Her Dutch-language feature Love Life, gained her further critical acclaim and broke box office records in her native Holland. Her next film Happy Housewive won her a record breaking 5th Golden Calf at The Netherlands Film Festival and was voted 'Best Dutch Actress of All Time' by the Dutch audience. Other awards include Best Actress for Black Butterflies at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Best Performance award for Instinct at the Les Arcs Film Festival 2019.

Her credits include Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's Intruders and Bill Condon's The Fifth Estate, the Jesse Owens biopic, Race, with Jason Sudekis and Jeremy Irons and voiced a character in The Simpsons. She can also be seen in Brian de Palma's Domino and in Brimstone, opposite Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce and Kit Harrington, and The Glass Room, with Claes Bang. She played a leading role in Halina Reijn's directorial feature debut Instinct, opposite Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin), which won the Variety Piazza Grande Award in Locarno Film Festival 2019. Instinct is the first outing for the Carice and Halina's production banner, Man Up.

Up next is the new Dutch series Red Light, in which she not only plays the lead role but she is also creative producer of the show, together with Halina and their production company Man Up The show is expected to air in Autumn 2020.

Barry Atsma is a versatile and much appraised actor, both in films, TV-series and in the theatre. He became very popular with his part in the hit film Stricken (Komt een vrouw bij de dokter), for which he was awarded the Gouden Kalf for Best Actor. Since then he is one of the most sought-after Dutch leading men.

From 1993 on Barry appeared in about twenty tv-series and thirty feature films. Between 2002 and 2012 he was a member of the ensemble of Toneelgroep Amsterdam. Ivo van Hove directed him in plays like Husbands, Angels in America, De Russen! and Hedda Gabler.

Barry could be seen in the feature films In My Father's Garden (Knielen op een bed violen), Lucia de B., Loft, Mannenharten I en II, Admiral (Michiel de Ruyter), Ik omhels je met duizend armen and Kenau. He also played the leads in the thrillers Taped and Quiz. His part in HannaHannaH was nominated for a Gouden Kalf for Best Supporting Actor.

He is currently starring alongside Jacob Derwig in the prize-winning Dutch tv-series Klem. Recently he was seen in the international productions Hector and the Search for Happiness, HHhH and Hitman's Bodyguard. In 2018 he will star in the BBC series The Split (directed by Jessica Hobbs) co-starring Nicola Walker and in the ZDF mini-series Bad Banks (directed by Christian Schwochow) playing opposite German actress Paula Beer.