A Day in the Netherlands with the Top 10 Dutch Billionaires

I have always wanted to visit the Netherlands, despite my broken and poor Dutch speaking skills. From what I have heard and seen, I am already in love with the quality of life in the country.

If you asked me what I would love to do if given a chance to do anything in the Netherlands, I wouldn’t even need to think. My answer would be simple: "I want to meet the top 10 Dutch billionaires."

Wait, did you know that the richest person in the Netherlands is a woman? I tell you, this country is just out of this world.

Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is her name, and this is the interesting part: her source of wealth didn’t come from fashion, tech, or real estate. It came from beer.

Yes, you heard me right, Heineken beer! That golden drink has made her one of the richest people in Europe, with a net worth of $14.1 billion (about 13.11 billion euros).

Let’s dive into the fascinating lives of the top 10 wealthiest individuals in the Netherlands in 2025. I promise you, their stories will blow your mind.

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Top 10 Richest People in the Netherlands (2025)

1. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken

• Net Worth: $14.1 billion

• Industry: Beverage

• Source of Wealth: Heineken inheritance

• Age: 70

Charlene isn't just a billionaire; she’s the face behind one of the biggest beer brands in the world.

She inherited a 25% controlling stake in Heineken from her father, Freddy Heineken. But she didn’t just sit back and relax, she actively helped shape the company into the powerhouse it is today.

At 70 years old, she is still one of the most influential businesswomen in Europe.

Can you imagine building a fortune from something as universally loved as beer? If there was ever a good reason to cheer "Proost!" (Cheers in Dutch), this would be it.

2. Jean-Louis van der Velde

• Net Worth: $3.9 billion

• Industry: Cryptocurrency

• Source of Wealth: CEO of Tether and Bitfinex

• Age: ~58

Next up is a man whose name you might not recognize immediately, but whose work you definitely have felt, especially if you're into crypto.

Jean-Louis van der Velde is the CEO of Tether and Bitfinex, two of the biggest names in cryptocurrency.

With a net worth of $3.9 billion, Jean-Louis rode the crazy rollercoaster of crypto to the top.

It’s funny, while some of us were still trying to figure out how Bitcoin works, this guy was already building empires around digital currencies. Talk about vision!

3. Arnout Schuijff

• Net Worth: $2.89 billion

• Industry: Financial Technology

• Source of Wealth: Co-founder of Adyen

• Age: 58

Tech is really a jackpot in the Netherlands, and Arnout Schuijff proves it.

Arnout co-founded Adyen, a payments company that works behind the scenes to make online transactions smooth and easy for giants like Facebook, Uber, and Spotify.

Today, with a fortune of $2.89 billion, Arnout is proof that fintech is the new oil.

At 58 years old, he has semi-retired from the busy life, but his influence in the tech world is still felt all over the globe.

Imagine creating something that millions of people use daily, and you barely hear your name. That's quiet power.

4. Kommer Damen

• Net Worth: $2.55 billion

• Industry: Shipbuilding

• Source of Wealth: Damen Shipyards

• Age: 81

If you thought only tech and beer could make you a billionaire, meet Kommer Damen.

His fortune didn’t come from screens or software, it came from the high seas.

Kommer is the boss behind Damen Shipyards, one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world.

His net worth? A strong $2.55 billion.

At 81 years old, he is a reminder that the old-school industries still have a lot of muscle left.

There’s something magical about building massive ships that travel the world, carrying goods and people across oceans.

5. Pieter van der Does

• Net Worth: $2.12 billion

• Industry: Financial Technology

• Source of Wealth: Co-founder and CEO of Adyen

• Age: 56

Back to fintech again! Pieter van der Does is another co-founder of Adyen.

With a net worth of $2.12 billion, Pieter shows that the payment world is truly a goldmine, if you know what you are doing.

At 56 years old, Pieter remains hands-on as CEO.

While other billionaires buy yachts and disappear, he’s still hustling hard every day. Respect!

So far, we’ve got beer, crypto, payments, and ships. The Dutch billionaires clearly know how to diversify!

6. John de Mol

• Net Worth: $1.78 billion

• Industry: Media and Entertainment

• Source of Wealth: Creator of Big Brother and The Voice

• Age: 70

Ever watched Big Brother? Or maybe you know The Voice?

Thank John de Mol for that.

John is a media genius who turned reality TV into billions. With a net worth of $1.78 billion, he built and sold TV formats like an artist paints masterpieces.

At 70 years old, John’s influence is still massive in the entertainment world.

Who would have thought filming people in a house 24/7 would one day turn into billions? Crazy!

7. Adriaan Mol

• Net Worth: $1.77 billion

• Industry: Financial Technology

• Source of Wealth: Founder of Mollie

• Age: 39

No relation to John de Mol, but just as rich!

Adriaan Mol is a fintech prodigy. He’s the founder of Mollie, another big name in the payments game.

At only 39 years old, Adriaan is sitting on a sweet $1.77 billion fortune.

Some people buy their first car at 39... others, like Adriaan, build billion-dollar companies. Different levels!

8. Lesley Bamberger

• Net Worth: $1.77 billion

• Industry: Real Estate

• Source of Wealth: Kroonenberg Groep

• Age: 59

Real estate is the oldest game in town, and Lesley Bamberger is playing it at the highest level.

Through his company Kroonenberg Groep, Lesley owns some of the most prime real estate in the Netherlands and the US.

At 59 years old, with a fortune of $1.77 billion, Lesley is proof that "location, location, location" is still the ultimate money-making mantra.

9. Sytse 'Sid' Sijbrandij

• Net Worth: $1.46 billion

• Industry: Software Development

• Source of Wealth: Co-founder of GitLab

• Age: 45

Love coding? Thank people like Sid Sijbrandij.

Sid co-founded GitLab, one of the biggest platforms for software developers around the world.

With a net worth of $1.46 billion, Sid turned the geeky world of code into a billion-dollar playground.

At just 45 years old, he’s inspiring a whole new generation of tech entrepreneurs to dream big.

10. Steven Schuurman

• Net Worth: $1.29 billion

• Industry: Technology

• Source of Wealth: Co-founder of Elastic

• Age: 49

Last but not least, we have Steven Schuurman, another tech heavyweight.

Steven co-founded Elastic, the company behind Elasticsearch, a tool used by major companies like Netflix and Uber to search through massive data.

At 49 years old, and with $1.29 billion in the bank, Steven shows that data really is the new oil.

One thing is clear — whether it's beer, tech, crypto, or even real estate, the Dutch know how to turn ideas into billions.

Hopefully one day, I will not just visit the Netherlands but also share a cup of coffee with one of these amazing minds (and maybe practice my Dutch too!).