The 5 best Dutch strikers of the 21st century
The Netherlands has long been a breeding ground for attacking football talent, producing legendary forwards known for blending technical skill, tactical intelligence, and a natural instinct for scoring goals. Iconic examples such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Dennis Bergkamp need no introduction.Although the Dutch have produced many superstars over the years, there's a sense nowadays that the national team is lacking depth up front. And while it's somewhat true that they might not currently have attackers of the same superstar level as in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, several strong Dutch strikers have emerged in more recent years. And in case you are looking to place bets on for example future Dutch top goal scorers there are several legal betting sites in the Netherlands to be found.
So, let's take a closer look at the most prolific Dutch goal scorers of the 21st century. We will here list five of the biggest names you're sure to recognize.
1. Robin van Persie
Few Dutch strikers have been as productive and technically gifted as Robin van Persie. He began his senior career at Feyenoord but truly flourished after moving to the English Premier League with Arsenal in 2004. His elegant left foot, clinical finishing, and splendid vision made him one of the league's most feared attackers.During his time in England, he won the Premier League Golden Boot twice - in 2011/2012 with Arsenal and again in 2012/2013 after moving to Manchester United, where he helped Sir Alex Ferguson secure his final league title. Van Persie scored over 140 goals in the Premier League and 50 goals for the Dutch national team, making him the Netherlands' all-time leading goal scorer - a record he still holds today.
One of his career highlights came in the 2014 World Cup, where he captained the Dutch team to a third-place finish. He also scored one of the tournament's most iconic goals - a diving header against Spain that remains unforgettable.
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2. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Next on the list is Ruud van Nistelrooy, known for his clinical finishing and intelligent movement inside the penalty area. After breaking through at PSV Eindhoven, he joined Manchester United in 2001 and quickly became one of Europe's most dangerous strikers.During his five seasons at Old Trafford, Van Nistelrooy scored a staggering 150 goals in 219 competitive matches. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2002/2003 season and helped the club lift the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. He also finished as the Champions League top scorer three times - a testament to his ability to perform on football's biggest stage.
Van Nistelrooy later moved to Real Madrid, where he continued his goal-scoring form and helped the club win two La Liga titles. For the national team, he scored 35 goals in 70 appearances - a strong ratio that underscored his importance for the Oranje.
3. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Often underrated outside of the Netherlands, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was a classic centre-forward with a knack for scoring in bunches. Nicknamed "The Hunter," he made a name for himself at Heerenveen and Ajax before moving abroad to bigger leagues.He had spells with giants like Real Madrid and AC Milan - and while they were short and not the runaway successes some hoped for, he held his own. His greatest success abroad came in Germany with Schalke 04, where he scored over 100 goals and helped the club win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in 2011. Huntelaar later returned to Ajax and kept scoring well into his 30s in the Eredivisie, before closing his career with a short return to Schalke in 2021.
On the international stage, Huntelaar earned 76 caps and scored 42 goals. He played key roles in Euro 2008 and the World Cups in 2010 and 2014. Even though he often played second fiddle to Van Persie, his scoring record for the national team proves he was a great striker in his own right.
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4. Dirk Kuyt
Although Dirk Kuyt wasn't a traditional striker in his later years, he began his career as a prolific goal scorer before evolving into a versatile, hard-working attacker who could play anywhere across the frontline. What he lacked in finesse, he made up for with tireless work ethic, consistency, and an uncanny ability to score crucial goals.Kuyt won the Eredivisie Golden Boot with Feyenoord in the 2004/2005 season before moving to Liverpool in 2006, where he became a fan favourite and a cult hero. Despite often being deployed as a winger, he scored several key goals - notably a hat-trick against Manchester United in 2011 and the equalizer in the 2012 League Cup final, which Liverpool went on to win.
For the Dutch national team, Kuyt earned over 100 caps and played a vital role in their run to the World Cup final in 2010. His leadership and adaptability were essential, and his composed penalty in the shootout victory over Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals demonstrated his calm under pressure.
5. Memphis Depay
While his career has seen its ups and downs, Memphis Depay deserves a spot on this list for his development into a key player for both club and country in the late 2010s and early 2020s. He broke through at PSV, winning both the Eredivisie title and the Golden Boot in the 2014/2015 season, and was also named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2015.A high-profile move to Manchester United followed, but weighed down by inflated expectations, he crumbled under the pressure. His time at United was disappointing - scoring just 2 goals in 33 appearances - but after transferring to the French league and Lyon, he resurrected his career. In France, he became one of Ligue 1's most dynamic forwards, and his flair, creativity, and goal threat earned him a deserved move to Barcelona in 2021.
His years in Spain, first with Barcelona and later Atlético Madrid, didn't replicate his best form in Lyon, but they were far from the failure he experienced in England. Now 31 years old, Depay is the only active player on this list, though he has since left the European stage and currently plays for Corinthians in Brazil.
For the Netherlands, Memphis has been the focal point of the attack following the Robben and Van Persie era. He has scored 47 goals for the national team to date and was instrumental in their run to the Round of 16 at Euro 2020 and in helping them qualify for the 2022 World Cup.