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Dutch football has given us some of the most well-known players ever witnessed in European football. The three-time World Cup runners up are synonymous with a style of football that leaves the watching world in awe of their skills and ability, and players have come from within the ranks at Dutch clubs to become icons of the game.
The famous Ajax academy, immensely successful national team and incredibly successful managers have brought a nation of 17,000,000 people to the forefront of the footballing world.
But this small country - despite being surrounded by more powerful countries such as France and Germany - remains a breeding ground for footballing talent.
But who remain the finest Dutch players ever produced? Some players have established iconic status at their clubs but have failed to have a similar impact on their national team.
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#10 - Ronald Koeman (Midfielder)
Named Holland's Player of the Year in 1987 and 1988, Koeman is considered one of the greats of the game. A product of the Groningen academy, Koeman went onto play for both Ajax and PSV where he won four Eredivisie titles, three KNVB Cups and a European Cup. Koeman became part of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' at Barcelona.
Despite playing in a deeper midfield role, Koeman managed to score a staggering 88 goals in 264 under the guidance of Johan Cruyff at Barcelona. A set-piece specialist, Koeman was a free-kick master and infamously scored the winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final - Barcelona's first European Cup victory.
Koeman won four consecutive La Liga titles at the start of the 1990s, the Copa Del Rey and European Cup. For his national side, Koeman was a member of the 1988 European Championship winning team. He also managed to accumulated 78 caps between 1982-1994 and scored 11 goals.
#9 Frank Rijkaard (Midfielder)
Frank Rijkaard was a focal point of Holland's success in the late 1980s. An incredibly talented midfielder capable of dominating in defensive duties, Rijkaard was the security the Dutch required in games against many world class teams.
Aged 19, Rijkaard made his debut for his national side in 1981 after impressing for Ajax in the Eredivisie. Two successful stints at in Amsterdam resulted in five league titles, three cups and the Champions League title in 1994 - despite being in the twilight years of his career.
Rijkaard was one of the famous Dutch trio who joined AC Milan in the late 1980s, and he was instrumental in their success domestically and in the continent. For the national side, Rijkaard was an integral part of the Dutch winning team at Euro 1988. Twice voted third in the Ballon d'Or voting, Rijkaard could be described as the greatest defensive-midfielder European football has produced.
#8 Faas Wilkes (Forward)
Considered the 'Cristiano Ronaldo' of his time, Faas Wilkes became well-known for his jinking runs, deadly eye for goal and a player who missed out on his prime years internationally due to his countries reluctance to play football on a professional level.
Wilkes was the first Dutch player to become an idol overseas, as he dazzled for Valencia from 1953 to 1956. Prior to his spell in Spain, Wilkes established himself as a hero at the San Siro by playing for Inter Milan between 1949-1952.
His goalscoring record speaks volumes of his ability as the forward mustered 35 goals in 38 caps. However, his prime years between 25-32 years-old were cut short as the Dutch FA refused to accept professional players for their national side.
Wilkes remained the countries fourth-highest goalscorer and became the fastest player to score 35 goals for his country - ahead of Patrick Kluviert, Robin van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp.
#7 Edwin van der Sar (Goalkeeper)
Every successful side needs a sturdy back line and players they can rely on regularly. And for a country known for creating attacking players and phenomenal footballers, Edwin van der Sar remains an exception due to his longevity, awareness and leadership from the back.
Van der Sar was the most-capped player in Dutch history until Wesley Sneijder overtook the iconic goalkeeper. First capped in 1995, Edwin featured for Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United during some of their most successful periods. Voted in the Euro 2008 team of the tournament, van der Sar aged like a fine wine and was a leading figure in Manchester United's success between 2006-2011.
Individually, he was the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1998 and holds a world record for not conceding a league goal - going 14 matches in 2008. Holland have failed to replace the iconic figure between the sticks following his retirement from the game in 2011.
#6 Johan Neeskens (Midfielder)
The maestro and the embodiment of 'Total Football', Johan Neeskens is widely considered the unvalued player in Holland's golden-era of football. The Dutch throughout the 1970s were known for their playing style that saw them reach the World Cup final on two occasions.
In 1978, Neeskens carried the Dutch side -- without Johan Cruyff -- to a second consecutive World Cup final before being outdone by the home nation, Argentina. A creative midfielder formerly, Neeskens had the versatility to play anywhere across the midfield and regularly unlocked defences who aimed to shut out the Dutch.
Like numerous players on this list, Neeskens gathered success at both Ajax and Barcelona alongside Cruyff and remains one of few players to have achieved three successive European Cup successes.
#5 Dennis Bergkamp (Forward)
Considered by many as the greatest foreign player to grace English shores, Dennis Bergkamp is not only an Arsenal icon but a hero of the Dutch national side.
Known for his technique, vision and eye for goal, Bergkamp is often described as the best player many former team-mates have ever played with; Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Ian Wright.
Bergkamp came through the Ajax academy before breaking into the first-team and eventually the national side. His performances attracted interest from Inter Milan, and he moved to Serie A for two seasons. In Italy, he struggled to recapture his form in Holland and opted for a move away when Arsenal came calling in 1995.
11 successful years in North London resulted in 3 Premier League titles - including one unbeaten season - to add to his successes in Holland and Italy. For the national side, his performances at the 1998 World Cup showed the world his talent when he scored possibly the greatest goal ever witnessed in the tournament.
#4 Clarence Seedorf (Midfielder)
Dutch football has never created the 'complete midfielder' until Clarence Seedorf broke into the Ajax first-team aged just 16. The right-midfielder (initially) was provided with the chance to impress when Louis van Gaal aimed to build a young Dutch side that would eventually conquer Europe.
A stint with Sampdoria occurred before Real Madrid wanted to bring Seedorf to the Spanish capital. Under the guidance of Fabio Capello, Seedorf developed into one of the most complete players on the planet. After one Champions League title and a La Liga title in 1997, Seedorf moved to Inter Milan and had a very unsuccessful time at the San Siro.
In 2002, Seedorf moved to AC Milan and became a cult-hero with the Rossenorri. It was here where he became the first player to record three Champions League titles with three different clubs. Ten years at Milan elevated Seedorf to iconic status in European football. Despite not shining for his national team when required, Seedorf remains the envy of many clubs in the continent.
#3 Marco van Basten (Forward)
Ravaged by injury, Marco van Basten could have eventually been mentioned in the same sentences as Diego Maradona, Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Lionel Messi. The former AC Milan forward retired aged 28 having won three Ballon d'Or titles before leaving the game too soon.
Having made his debut for Ajax in 1981 aged 17, van Basten became an iconic figure - and widely considered the greatest forward in Dutch football history - after scoring 152 goals in 172 games until he moved to AC Milan in 1987.
Scoring the winning goal in 1988 European Championships ensured he is guaranteed a place in Dutch football's history. Van Basten was one of the famous Dutch trio, which included Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit, that guided AC Milan through the most symbolic period in their history. But after two years of injury to his ankle, van Basten retired in 1995. 125 goals in 201 appearances for Milan leave him with iconic status at the San Siro.
In his 14-year career, van Basten claimed 3 Serie A titles and 2 European Cups The forward also won 3 Eredivisie titles, 3 KNVB Cups and the Cup Winners' Cup during his time with Ajax.
#2 Ruud Gullit (Midfielder)
Recognisable on the pitch for his waving skills, eye for goal and incredible dreadlocks, Gullit became the greatest midfielder in the world after dominating world football both domestically, and internationally for Holland.
The captain of the Euro 1988 winning side, Gullit holds a special place in Dutch history, and that's without considering his talent and achievements at club level. Six incredible years in Holland learning his trade brought unprecedented success before he moved to AC Milan in 1987. Three Eredivisie titles and a KNVB Cup victory occurred before his Italian job took place.
In six years at Milan, Gullit won 3 Serie A titles including back-to-back European Cup triumphs, where Ruud scored twice in the 1989 final against Steaua Bucharest. Further success at Sampdoria and an FA Cup success at Chelsea were added to his honours before embarking on a rather unfortunate time in club management.
Incredibly gifted, a leader on the field, and with little flaws in his game, Gullit was a star wherever he went.
#1 Johan Cruyff (Forward)
The grandfather of Dutch football, very few players have had the impact on a sport quite like Johan Cruyff has had on football. The most famous exponent of the philosophy known as 'Total Football' that gained so many plaudits, Cruyff's legacy is felt throughout the continent, and not only Holland.
An essential component of the successful Ajax teams throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Cruyff won 8 Eredivisie titles, 5 KNVB Cups and three consecutive European Cups. A short spell at Feyenoord towards the end of his career meant he added Eredivisie titles with two different clubs.
Five years in Barcelona in the prime years of his career ended with him as a La Liga winner, but his legacy at the Catalonian club wouldn't finish there. He would return as manager in 1988 to implement a philosophy and style that remains the embodiment of their success in the modern game.
For his national side, he led Holland to the 1974 World Cup final with the Dutch firm favourites to capture the crown in West Germany. Nonetheless, the Dutch came unstuck to their fierce rivals, and the side became known as the greatest team never to win the World Cup.
Retirement in 1983 followed to end a prestigious career. In 1999, Cruyff was named the second greatest player (behind Pele) of the 20th century by the International Football Federation of History and Statistics.
