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#3 Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands' Dennis Bergkamp is widely renowned for his fabulous performances at Premier League side Arsenal, where he spent the bulk of his career. The midfielder was gifted with immense technical ability, which was amply evident during his playing days.
Like many Netherlands legends, Bergkamp began his career at Ajax in 1986 and spent seven years at the club, gathering both team and individual success. Despite not playing as the main striker, Bergkamp was the top scorer in the Eredivisie for three consecutive seasons, his final few campaigns in the Netherlands.
Bergkamp joined Inter Milan in 1993 but endured a tough spell with the Italian side, particularly due to the physicality and resolute defensive gameplay in the league. He left Inter after two years and joined Arsenal in 1995, where his career once again began its upward trajectory.
Dennis Bergkamp initially struggled to adapt to English football in his debut season. But after the appointment of manager Arsene Wenger the next season, the Netherlands international quickly became a key player in the team.
He spent 11 years at Arsenal before retiring in 2006. Bergkamp won ten trophies with the north London club and was a member of the famous Invincibles side that went an entire domestic league campaign unbeaten.
Bergkamp won 17 trophies in his illustrious career, winning four league titles as well as two Europa League trophies.
The Netherlands international won the Dutch Footballer of the year award twice and also finished third and second in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Bergkamp also finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year voting twice.
He made 79 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring 37 goals, which is joint-fourth in the country's all-time scoring list.
#2 Marco van Basten
Marco van Basten, unfortunately, had his career cut short at just 28. But his achievements in his 14 seasons at Ajax and AC Milan were nothing short of incredible.
He joined Ajax in 1981 and spent six years at the club, finishing as the league's top scorer in each of his final four years at the club. The Netherlands international won a total of 118 goals in 112 games.
Van Basten left the Netherlands and joined AC Milan in 1987. Although he struggled with injuries in his debut campaign, he still managed to score eight goals in 19 games.
The Dutch striker played five more seasons at AC Milan before suffering an ankle injury in his fifth and final season at the club, which forced him to have a third surgery. He scored 22 goals in just 24 games that season, which would eventually prove to be his last. The Netherlands international spent two years on the sidelines before announcing his retirement in 1995.
Marco van Basten is one of the most decorated players to come out of the Netherlands. He won over 20 trophies in his short but highly illustrious career. The Netherlands international won a combined seven league titles at Ajax and AC Milan as well as three Champions League trophies, all with AC Milan.
The Dutchman's individual achievements were perhaps more impressive, as he won three Ballon d'Or awards and three UEFA Best Player of the Year awards. He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1992.
The Netherlands international was the top scorer in the league six times, twice in the Serie A and four times in the Eredivisie. He also won the European Golden Boot in 1986.
In international football, Van Basten won the European Championship with the Netherlands in 1988 and finished as the top scorer and best player at the tournament. He scored 24 goals for the Netherlands in 58 games.
#1 Johan Cruyff
Undoubtedly the biggest name in football to come out of the Netherlands, Johan Cruyff is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game. He revolutionised the game both as a player and as a manager later in his career.
Cruyff, like everyone else in this list, began his career at Ajax. He made his debut for the Amsterdam club in the 1964-65 season, where Ajax finished 13th, their lowest-ever league finish in history. Cruyff became a regular in the side the next season and helped Ajax return to the top of the Eredivisie, scoring 25 goals in 23 games.
He left Ajax in 1973 and joined Spanish side Barcelona, where he made an immediate impact. The former Netherlands international helped the Blaugrana win their first La Liga title in 14 years. Cruyff spent five years at Barcelona, winning the Copa del Rey in his final season at the club, which was his second and final trophy at Barcelona.
Cruyff then had spells in the United States and Levante in Spain before returning to the Netherlands in 1981 to rejoin Ajax. He spent two seasons at the club and picked up as many Eredivisie trophies. He then joined Ajax's rivals Feyenoord in 1983, where he won a domestic double, including a first Eredivisie title for Feyenoord in a decade.
He ended his playing career with ten league titles - eight at Ajax and one each at Barcelona and Feyenoord. The Dutchman also won the Champions League three times, all of them with Ajax.
Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or award three times and was named the Dutch Footballer of the Year three times. He was named the International Federation of Football History and Statistics' European Player of the Century and came second behind Pele in the same organisation's World Player of the Century category.
On the international stage, Cruyff appeared 48 times for the Netherlands and scored 33 goals, boasting one of the best game-to-goal ratios in the Netherlands' history. He helped the Netherlands finish runner-up in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where he was voted the best player of the tournament.
Cruyff retired in 1984 and took up managerial roles at Ajax and Barcelona, where he achieved much success.
