In the Dutch language, “van” is a preposition prefix that literally translates to “of” or “from”. Dutch footballers have “van” in their surnames because historical Dutch naming traditions used geographical origins to identify individuals (e.g., Virgil van Dijk translates to “Virgil from the dike”).
Quick Meaning Summary of Dutch Surname Prefixes
- Van: “From” or “Of” (e.g., van Persie = from Persie)
- Van der / Van de: “From the” or “Of the” (e.g., van der Sar = from the Sar)
- Van ‘t / Van het: “From the” (neuter noun form, e.g., van ‘t Schip)
As you may know, there are so many Dutch footballers with van in their name. Well, in this post, you’ll understand why Dutch footballers have “van” in their names and see a list of 30 players who have van in their names.
What Does “Van” Mean in the Dutch Language?
Literally, “Van” means “of” or “from”. Usually, it is used as a prefix of the real surname. For example, in Edwin van der Sar, Edwin is the first name, and Sar is actually the last name. So, why is “van” or “van der” used in Dutch surnames?
Why Dutch Footballers Have “van” in Their Surnames
In the Dutch tradition, it is common to use “van” to denote where a particular person is from. This was necessary for identification purposes, especially when two people bear the same first name.
In the above example of Edwin van der Sar, it simply means “Edwin who hails (or comes from) Sar” or Edwin of Sar.
Also, in the early ages of the Dutch, it was common practice to name a child after where he or she was born.
So, back to our example of Edwin Van Der Saar, his ancestors probably have an origin or connection with the territory of Saar in the Netherlands.
Consider Reading: Worst Arsenal Signings: The Top 10 Biggest Arsenal Flops
Variations of “Van”
There are a few variations of the use of “van” in Dutch surnames. Although “van” can stand alone as a prefix to a surname, sometimes more is added to it.
In some cases, some Dutch footballers have “van de”, “van der”, or “van het”.
Consider Reading: Why Do Soccer Players Fake Injuries?
Is “van” Capitalised in Dutch Names?
In official Dutch grammar, “van” is written in lowercase when preceded by a first name or initial (e.g., Virgil van Dijk or V. van Dijk). However, if the first name is omitted, the “V” is capitalised (e.g., Van Dijk). In Belgian Flemish (like Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten), the “V” is almost always capitalised regardless of first name usage.
30 footballers with van in their name
Here we compiled a list of 30 footballers (retired & active) who have van in their name.
| # | Player Name | Main Position | Nationality | Notable Club |
| 1 | Robin van Persie | Forward | Dutch | Arsenal / Man United |
| 2 | Virgil van Dijk | Center-Back | Dutch | Liverpool |
| 3 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Striker | Dutch | Manchester United / Real Madrid |
| 4 | Marco van Basten | Striker | Dutch | AC Milan / Ajax |
| 5 | Edwin van der Sar | Goalkeeper | Dutch | Manchester United / Ajax |
| 6 | Donny van de Beek | Midfielder | Dutch | Manchester United / Girona |
| 7 | Micky van de Ven | Center-Back | Dutch | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 8 | Rafael van der Vaart | Midfielder | Dutch | Tottenham / Real Madrid |
| 9 | Giovanni van Bronckhorst | Left-Back | Dutch | Barcelona / Arsenal |
| 10 | Mark van Bommel | Midfielder | Dutch | Bayern Munich / PSV |
| 11 | Marco van Ginkel | Midfielder | Dutch | Chelsea / PSV |
| 12 | Pierre van Hooijdonk | Forward | Dutch | Feyenoord / Celtic |
| 13 | Mitchell van Bergen | Forward | Dutch | FC Twente |
| 14 | Louis van Gaal | Midfielder / Manager | Dutch | Ajax / Netherlands NT |
| 15 | Willem van Hanegem | Midfielder | Dutch | Feyenoord |
| 16 | Willy van der Kuijlen | Striker | Dutch | PSV Eindhoven |
| 17 | Willy van de Kerkhof | Midfielder | Dutch | PSV Eindhoven |
| 18 | Theo van Duivenbode | Left-Back | Dutch | Ajax / Feyenoord |
| 19 | Patrick van Aanholt | Left-Back | Dutch | Crystal Palace / PSV |
| 20 | Jan van Beveren | Goalkeeper | Dutch | PSV Eindhoven |
| 21 | Gregory van der Wiel | Right-Back | Dutch | PSG / Ajax |
| 22 | René van Dieren | Midfielder | Dutch | Feyenoord |
| 23 | Wim van Til | Midfielder | Dutch | Dordrecht |
| 24 | Frans van Rooy | Forward | Dutch | PSV Eindhoven |
| 25 | Hans van Breukelen | Goalkeeper | Dutch | PSV Eindhoven |
| 26 | Adri van Tiggelen | Left-Back | Dutch | Anderlecht / PSV |
| 27 | Daniel van Buyten | Center-Back | Belgian | Bayern Munich |
| 28 | Cor van der Hart | Center-Back | Dutch | Ajax / Lille |
| 29 | John van ‘t Schip | Forward / Manager | Dutch | Ajax |
| 30 | Sepp van den Berg | Center-Back | Dutch | Brentford / Liverpool |
Are all footballers with “van” in their name from the Netherlands?
While the vast majority are Dutch, some Belgian players (such as Daniel Van Buyten) and South African players (due to historical Dutch/Afrikaans linguistic roots) also share “Van” surnames.
Further Reading:
Victor Osimhen vs Erling Haaland: Complete Career Stats Comparison
Why Do Soccer Players Fake Injuries? Tactical & Physical Reasons Explained
Why Soccer Players Kiss Each Other, The Trophy or Their Wrist Explained
