List of 49 important deaths affecting the Netherlands in 2025
This year was one marked by the deaths of many people who greatly influenced Dutch culture, politicians, and others who made news in many other ways. Among the most well-known, were Jonnie Boer, who helped win three Michelin Stars with his restaurant, De Librije, television presenter Dieuwertje Blok, Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans, the founder of The Moscow Times, Derk Sauer.
Below follows a list of four dozen people who had a significant impact in the Netherlands, and died at some point in the year.
Prominent deaths in January 2025
Willem van Kooten (83), Dutch radio personality known as Joost den Draaijer, died on January 3. Considered the pioneer hit radio in the Netherlands. He began his career as a broadcast disc jockey, and later served as program director at Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee. He received the Marconi Oeuvre Award in 2018 for his contributions to radio.
Nicolaas Klei (63), Dutch wine writer, died on January 4. He became known for his two prominent wine guides, and he wrote columns for several publications, including newspaper AD and the predecessor to EW magazine, Elsevier.
Manuëla Kemp (61), Dutch singer and presenter, died on January 17. The previous month, Kemp was seriously injured in a scooter accident in Portugal. She was a singer in the Dutch band The Revelettes, with Anouk Broersma and Claudia Lynsvelt. Kemp also modeled in fashion shows, and worked as a DJ for a pirate radio station. In 1993, she became the first presenter of the RTL lifestyle magazine show, Eigen Huis & Tuin. Kemp died after spending several weeks in a coma following the accident.
Prominent deaths in February 2025
Carel Weeber (87), Dutch architect, known for his large-scale, idiosyncratic, and sometimes controversial designs, died on February 2. He designed the now-demolished Zwarte Madonna residential complex in The Hague, the Peperklip residential complex, and the Schie, a prison in Rotterdam. Born in Nijmegen, Weeber grew up in Curaçao. He opposed what he called "the new prudishness" in his profession.
Ron Brandsteder (74), Dutch television presenter, died on February 10. He was known for shows such as Ron's Honeymoonquiz, Laat Ze Maar Lachen, and Wie Ben Ik? He also released several music releases over the course of his career, scoring a hit with Bonnie St. Claire on their song, "Dokter Bernhard."
Frits Bolkestein (91), Dutch politician who entered the Tweede Kamer in 1978 for the VVD, died on February 17. He served as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the first Lubbers Cabinet in the 1980s. After a brief return to Parliament, he became Minister of Defense. In 1990, he succeeded Joris Voorhoeve as party leader of the VVD.
Frits Korthals Altes (93), Dutch politician, died on February 19. He was the chair of the VVD from 1975 to 1981. The following year, he became Minister of Justice, a position he held until the end of 1989. Between 1997 and 2001, he presided over the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate. After his retirement, he was given the honorary lifetime title of Minister of State.
Hans van den Broek (88), Dutch politician, died on February 22. He was a state secretary, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the European Commissioner for Foreign Relations. Van den Broek was the father to Princess Marilène, wife of Prince Maurits. He was given the honorary lifetime title of Minister of State in 2005.
Prominent deaths in March 2025
Dieuwertje Blok (67), Dutch television presenter and the face of the Sinterklaasjournaal for 23 years, died on March 2. She also worked for several social service organizations. In December 2024, she was appointed Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.
Rob de Nijs (82), Dutch singer, died on March 16. He scored his first major hit in 1963 with the song "Ritme van de Regen." He appeared on popular children's television shows during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He later achieved success with songs such as "Jan Klaassen," "Malle Babbe," "Zet Een Kaars Voor Je Raam Vannacht," and "Bier Is Bitter."
Bram Biesterveld (86), Dutch actor, died on March 23. He was best known for his role as Pommetje Horlepiep. This series is considered the successor to "Swiebertje," by the same writer. Biesterveld also performed in theater, appeared in the TV series Oppassen!!!, and voiced the film Monsters en Co.
Loretta Schrijver (68), Dutch presenter known for hosting RTL Nieuws, died on March 27. She also presented Koffietijd, and was a panelist on the RTL program, The Masked Singer. Schrijver also produced programs for broadcasters AVRO and Omroep MAX.
Prominent deaths in April 2025
Harmen Siezen (84), Dutch newsreader who started on NOS Journaal in 1969 and presented over 17,000 news broadcasts, died on April 5. Before joining NOS, Siezen worked for Radio Veronica and TROS, among others. At NOS, he became one of the best-known newsreaders in the Netherlands.
Keith Bakker (64), the controversial American-Dutch addiction guru, died on April 7. He started a rehab clinic in 2004 after resolving his own addiction problems, and later became nationally known through TV programs, like Family Matters. He was convicted in 2010 for sexually abusing young women and girls, and was arrested again after his release. He was convicted and sent to prison for the rape of an underage girl. He had plans to return to work in addiction treatment.
Leo Beenhakker (82), Dutch football coach, died on April 10. He enjoyed success as a coach with Feyenoord and Ajax. Nicknamed "Don Leo," he led Real Madrid to three national titles and, as coach of the Dutch national team, narrowly missed out on the 1986 World Cup. His squad came up short twice in qualifiers against Austria, losing 1-0 due to an own goal in Nov. 1984, and playing to a 1-1 draw in May 1985. He also coached Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Poland.
Jonnie Boer (60), the world-renowned Dutch chef, died on April 23. The restaurant he ran with his wife, De Librije, has held three Michelin Stars since 2004. It is currently the only Dutch restaurant with three stars. With his wife, he also owned three other restaurants in Zwolle, two restaurants on Bonaire, and one on Curaçao.
Prominent deaths in May 2025
Jan Terlouw (93), Dutch writer and politician, died on May 16. He received a Golden Griffel award for his children's books Oorlogswinter and Koning van Katoren. He became leader of the D66 party in the Tweede Kamer in 1973 and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs in the second Cabinet of Dries van Agt in 1981. From 1991 to 1996, he was Queen's Commissioner in Gelderland. In recent years, he had championed for a better world.
Gerard Soeteman (88), Dutch screenwriter and one of the most influential in Dutch film history, died on May 16. He became known for his collaboration with Paul Verhoeven, with whom he created numerous classics such as Turks Fruit (1973), Soldaat van Oranje (1977), Spetters (1980), and Zwartboek (2006).
Hans Wiegel (83), Dutch politician who led the VVD party from 1971 to 1982, died on May 19. He emerged as a major rival of Labour Party leader Joop den Uyl, whom he once called "Sinterklaas" during a debate. After his leadership, he continued to frequently participate in public debate, earning him the reputation of an "oracle." He was Minister of the Interior, Member of Parliament, Member of the Senate, and Queen's Commissioner in Friesland.
Cor Boonstra (87), Dutch businessman and Philips CEO from 1996 to 2001, died on May 24. He took drastic action at the electronics company, divesting loss-making units and firing managers. He left high school early and initially worked for Unilever. He was acquitted of insider trading, but was fined for failing to report trading in Ahold shares while he was a supervisory board member at the company.
Prominent deaths in June 2025
Peter de Bie (75), Dutch journalist and radio presenter, died on June 3. He presented the Tros Nieuwsshow and Omroep Max's Nieuwsweekend, his partner was broadcaster Dieuwertje Blok, who died on March 2. He decided to end his life via euthanasia because he did not want to become fully dependent on others after he ended up in a wheelchair. In a farewell interview on Radio 1, he said about his life, "The last two years were hard, but the rest was truly sublime."
Krisztina de Châtel (81), Dutch-Hungarian choreographer who was an internationally acclaimed innovator of modern dance, died on June 3. She founded her own dance company in 1976, with which she performed until 2008. She subsequently worked with various other companies. Her oeuvre has been recognized with awards including the Amsterdamprijs voor de Kunst, the Frans Banninck Cocqpenning, and the Gouden Zwaan.
Henk van Os (87), Dutch art historian, died on June 14. He was director of the Rijksmuseum from 1989 to 1997. He became known to the general public through the television programs Museumschatten on VARA, and Beeldenstorm on AVRO. As an art historian, he specialized in Italian medieval art.
Prominent deaths in July 2025
Rinus Israël (83), Dutch footballer and manager, died on July 1. As a player, he was known as a tough defender. He won the national championship three times with Feyenoord and the European Cup in 1970. "Iron Rinus" also won the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Cup with the Rotterdam club. He played 47 times for the Dutch national team. After his playing career, he became manager of Feyenoord, FC Den Bosch, and ADO Den Haag, among others.
Rob Houwer (87), Dutch film producer, died on July 4. Working with Paul Verhoeven, he brought the films Wat Zien Ik?!, Turks Fruit (1973), Soldaat van Oranje (1977) to the big screen. Turks Fruit was nominated for an Oscar for Best International Film. With over 3.3 million ticket sales, it remains the most-attended Dutch cinema film of all time.
Rudolf van den Berg (76), Dutch director, died on July 12 shortly after filming wrapped on his last film, Spinoza. He had earlier success with adaptations of books, including Gerard Reve's De Avonden, Arnon Grunberg's Tirza, and Leon de Winter's works, Zouwen naar Eileen, and Bastille. He also directed the war film "Süskind" and television series. He won five Golden Calves during his career.
George Kooymans (77), Dutch musician who was guitarist for the rock band Golden Earring, died on July 23. He was one of the founders from the band's start in 1961, and he enjoyed great success with the band. Their 1973 song, Radar Love, was a number 1 hit in the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He died from complications of ALS.
Chiel Montagne (80), Dutch presenter, died on July 24. He hosted Dutch artists on the TROS program, Op volle toeren, which was produced for 20 years. His trademark moustache received the 1999 Moustache of the Year award. Bert van Rheenen, as he was actually called, began his career at radio station Veronica, which broadcast a pirate signal from the sea at the time. He also ran his own studio and management agency.
Derk Sauer (72), Dutch journalist and founder of The Moscow Times, died on July 31. He was the editor-in-chief of Nieuwe Revu between 1982 and 1989. He left for Russia, where he published Playboy and Cosmopolitan, and later founded The Moscow Times. The newspaper moved to Amsterdam in 2022 because, in his view, the journalistic climate in Russia had become untenable after the invasion of Ukraine. He was a columnist for Het Parool, which commemorated him as a "true fighter for press freedom."
Prominent deaths in August 2025
Ove Kindvall (82), Swedish footballer and Feyenoord icon, died on August 5. He led the Rotterdam club to the European Cup with a winning goal against Celtic in 1970. He played for the Rotterdam club between 1966 and 1971, alongside other big names such as Coen Moulijn, Willem van Hanegem, and Wim Jansen. He represented Sweden in the 1970 and 1974 World Cups.
Kars Veling (77), Dutch politician, died on August 13. He was the first party leader and parliamentary leader of the ChristenUnie, which emerged with the fusion of two reform Christian political parties. After leaving politics, Veling went into education and became director of ProDemos. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Lucia de Berk (63), a Dutch pediatric nurse wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of seven patients, died on August 28. Six years after her initial conviction, her case was reopened because serious doubts were raised about the evidence in her case. The Court of Appeal in Arnhem vacated the conviction, acquitting her in 2010. Her case is known as the greatest miscarriage of justice in Dutch history.
Harrie Geelen (86), a Dutch writer and illustrator, died on August 30. He was married to author Imme Dros for 62 years and illustrated many of her books. Together, they won the Woutertje Pieterse Prize in 2006 for Bijna Jarig. During his career, Geelen also received the Gouden Penseel for his illustrations of Het Biertje Pippeloentje by Annie M.G. Schmidt, and a Zilveren Penseel for Juffrouw Kachel.
Prominent deaths in September 2025
Gerard Cox (85), Dutch singer and actor who made a name for himself as a comedian in the 1960s, died on September 13. He was a member of the socially critical group, Lurelei, collaborated on the satirical radio program Cursief, and played bus driver Jaap Kooiman in the comedy series Toen Was Geluk Heel Gewoon. In 1973, he scored a number 1 hit as a singer with the song, 't Is Weer Voorbij Die Mooie Zomer. He had been in a relationship for many years with singer and actress Joke Bruijs. His former partner died three days later.
Joke Bruijs (73), Dutch singer and actress, died on September 16 shortly after her former long-time partner, Gerard Cox. She was in her first band at the age of 13: The Spitfires. She performed in numerous theater productions, such as the musicals Kaat Mossel and Mooi Katendrecht. She appeared on television in the TV series Toen Was Geluk Heel Gewoon, in which she co-starred with Cox, and later in The Masked Singer. She donated her body to science.
Prominent deaths in October 2025
Joost Nuissl (79), Dutch cabaret artist, died on October 7. He was best known for his hit, Ik Ben Blij Dat Ik Je Niet Vergeten Ben. He wrote the song in Limburg in the 1970s. Nuissl later worked as a theater director, including at De Kleine Komedie in Amsterdam.
Selma van de Perre (103), Dutch World War II resistance fighter, died on October 20. She was part of a resistance group during World War II that forged identity documents for Jewish citizens to prevent their prosecution. She wrote about this in her biography, "My Name Is Selma." After the war, she worked for many years as a foreign correspondent for AVRO/Televizier, among others. In 1983, she received the Dutch Resistance Commemorative Cross.
Prominent deaths in November 2025
Joost Prinsen (83), Dutch actor and presenter, died on November 3. He appeared in numerous plays and television shows, and presented well-known programs such as De Stratemakeropzeeshow, Het Klokhuis, and the quiz show he created, Met het Mes op Tafel. He also wrote columns for various media outlets. He was together with his wife Emma for almost half a century, who passed away in 2020. He found a new love in former newsreader Noraly Beyer.
Ronald Venetiaan (89), former president of Suriname, died on November 5. He served two non-consecutive terms, first from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2010. He studied mathematics in Leiden but then returned to Suriname, where he served as a union leader, teacher, and minister. He curbed the influence of the military and introduced the Surinamese dollar. He lost the 2010 election to former dictator, Dési Bouterse.
Viola Holt (76), Dutch presenter, died on November 6. She started working at AVRO in 1968 as a 17-year-old and was on the cover of the best-selling edition of Playboy in the Netherlands in 1984. Her greatest success as a presenter came in the 1990s with the 5 Uur Show on RTL 4. She also presented TV Romantica for the channel. She later participated in reality programs such as Hotel Big Brother, Bobo's in the Bush, Ranking the Stars, and her own reality series with Bonnie St. Claire. She caused a stir with her remark that she had become "magnetic" after coming into contact with someone who had been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Yvonne Keuls (93), Dutch author, best known for her novel "Het verrotte leven van Floortje Bloem", died on November 16. The book was about a girl who stays in a youth care facility, becomes addicted to drugs, and ends up in prostitution. Shee also wrote "Jan Rap en z'n maat" and "De Moeder van David S." She was awarded The Hague Culture Prize and the Trouw Publieksprijs.
Paul van Gorcum (91), Dutch actor, best known as irascible villain "the Baron" from the TV series Bassie & Adriaan, died on November 20. He also played many theater roles, including in the musicals Madame Arthur and Max Havelaar. His voice can still be heard in the Efteling attraction, Baron 1898, and in the old Smurfs cartoons, where he was the Dutch voice of the evil Gargamel.
René Karst (59), Dutch folk singer, died of cardiac arrest on November 21. He enjoyed great success with carnivalesque songs about a Burgundian lifestyle, such as "Atje Voor De Sfeer" and "Liever Te Dik In De Kist." He also wrote songs for other artists, including Wolter Kroes and Monique Smit. Fellow artist Frans Bauer described him as "a man who was always cheerful and a true professional."
Stijn Franken (58), Dutch criminal defense lawyer, was reported dead on November 27. He succeeded in having the case of The Hague nurse Lucia de Berk reopened, which led to her acquittal. She died in August. He also represented Volkert van der G., who assassinated politician Pim Fortuyn, and organized crime leader Willem Holleeder. At the end of 2024, he wrote the book, "Laatste Man," about his life and work.
Prominent deaths in December 2025
Frans Weisz (87), Dutch director, died on December 7. He left drama school for film school and achieved success with films such as De Inbreker, Rooie Sien, Charlotte, and Leedvermaak. The latter two earned him a Golden Calf. As a Jewish boy, he survived World War II by going into hiding. His father was murdered in Auschwitz. His last major film was Het Leven Is Vurrukkulluk, based on the book by Remco Campert.
Hans Otjes (78), Dutch actor and comedian, died on December 8. He became known to the general public primarily as a reporter in André van Duin's revues, and as "the captain" in the Bassie & Adriaan series De Huilende Professor. Generations of children heard his voice in series such as De Freggels, Ducktales, and Alfred Jodocus Kwak.
John Fentener van Vlissingen (86), Dutch businessman behind corporate travel agency BCD Travel, died at December 11. He was born into a well-known entrepreneurial family, ran his own investment company, BORON, and amassed a fortune of €2.9 billion, according to the Quote 500. He was also a philanthropist.
Tonny Eyk (85), Dutch musician and composer who created the theme songs for Studio Sport and TopPop, died on December 13. He was responsible for several songs by the cabaret duo Van Kooten and De Bie. He also collaborated on the well-known songs "Op een onbewoond eiland", and "Ik heb zozinnig dromed" by Kinderen voor Kinderen. He also composed music for television programs, such as De Zevensprong, Hints, and De Mini-playbackshow.
Hans van Manen (93), Dutch choreographer considered one of the grand masters of contemporary ballet, died on December 17. Throughout his career, he created more than 150 works. He was the recipient of dozens of awards for his significant contribution to the art world, including the Erasmus Prize, the Prix Benois de la Danse Life Achievement Award, the Grand Prix à la Carrière, and the VSCD Oeuvre Prize.
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