Netherlands' top scorers who were born after 1968

Some of the greatest goalscorers to have played the game have done the famous orange shirt over the years.

Below we look at the Netherlands' top 10 goalscorers born after 1968.

Robin van Persie (50)

One of the best forwards of his generation, Robin van Persie's potential looked like it would remain unfulfilled owing to numerous injury issues.

But in his late 20s, Van Persie started playing catch-up, scoring 48 goals in little over 18 months for Arsenal before moving to Manchester United. Around the same time, Van Persie started banging them in for the national side.

Van Persie scored 30 of his 50 Dutch goals between 2011 and 2024.

Memphis Depay (46)

Although not a traditional centre forward, much of the Netherlands' goalscoring hopes have rested on the shoulders of Memphis Depay in recent years.

While his move to Manchester United was hugely underwhelming, Depay has enjoyed more success elsewhere, becoming a vital part of the Dutch squad.

Depay's standout year with the national team came in 2021, where he scored a whopping 17 goals in 16 games.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42)

While not necessarily the most gifted footballer, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was an incredible potent goalscorer.

Scoring at a rate of better than one every two games at club level, Huntelaar also scored 42 goals in 76 international games, bagging 11 in 12 games in 2010.

Patrick Kluivert (40)

Although he perhaps burnt out a little too soon having shown so much promise as a teenager, Patrick Kluivert still goes down as one of the Netherlands' best goalscorers.

Making his debut in 1994, Kluivert scored 40 in 79 games, including five at Euro 2000 to finish as the tournament's joint-top scorer.

Dennis Bergkamp (37)

More a goal creator than a goalscorer, Dennis Bergkamp nevertheless remains one of the Netherlands' most prolific forwards with 37 goals in 79 games.

His best, of course, still ranks as one of the World Cup's all-time great goals; bringing Frank de Boer's ranging pass under control, Bergkamp flicked the ball over Roberto Ayala's head and poked past Carlos Roa, scoring a 90th-minute winner to send the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-final.

Arjen Robben (37)

One of the best wingers of his generation, Arjen Robben scored one particular goal so often, the move became associated with him.

Cutting in from the right wing onto his favoured left foot and scoring a curling effort into the far corner became second nature for Robben, who found the net 37 times in 96 games for the national side.

Ruud van Nistelrooy (35)

Undoubtedly one of the best strikers of his generation, it's a surprise not to see Ruud van Nistelrooy higher in the list of Dutch goalscorers.

Although injuries hampered the latter part of his career, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man still scored 35 goals in 70 games.

Wesley Sneijder (31)

The playmaking talisman of the Dutch side for a number of years, Wesley Sneijder cleared the 100-cap barrier and then some for the national team, going on to feature 134 times.

While never a prolific goalscorer, Sneijder did score in 11 consecutive years, bagging 31 times in total.

Georginio Wijnaldum (28)

Signed as a goalscoring attacking midfielder by Newcastle, Georginio Wijnaldum spent just a year in the north east before being converted to a deeper-lying midfielder by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Nevertheless, Wijnaldum continued to chip in with goals for the Netherlands, scoring 28 in 96 games.

Rafael van der Vaart (25)

Alhough not known as a goalscorer, Rafael van der Vaart was an outstanding technician, whose talents saw him represent the national side 109 times for more than a decade.

First scoring in 2003, Van der Vaart scored every year from then for the Netherlands until his retirement in 2013.