• Monarch: Beatrix
• Prime Minister: Wim Kok

• 1 January – Fire at a New Years party in a bar in Volendam kills 14 young people and injures 200
• 18 January – Fire at Schiphol airport leads to chaos
• 26 January – Suspect of fireworks explosion in Enschede in May 2000 arrested
• 6 February – Foreign minister Van Aartsen calls off visit to the People's Republic of China because of human rights
• 8 February – Eight Hells Angels are arrested in their club house in Amsterdam
• 14 February – Government Information Service declares that Queen Beatrix's second son Friso is not homosexual^[1]
• 14 February – The creator of the Anna Kournikova computer virus turns himself in
• 21 March – First case of foot and mouth disease discovered^[2]
• 30 March – Engagement of Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta announced^[3]

• 26 March – Michael Dudok de Wit wins an Academy Award (Short film/animated) for Father and Daughter

• 11 February – Rintje Ritsma wins the world all-round speed skating title.
• 21 April – FC Den Bosch wins the Eerste Divisie.^[4]
• 28 April – Erik Dekker wins the Amstel Gold Race.
• 6 May – PSV Eindhoven secures the Dutch football title in the Eredivisie by beating SC Heerenveen 3–0.
• 24 May – FC Twente wins the KNVB Cup after beating PSV Eindhoven in the penalty shootout
• 16 June – HC Den Bosch clinches the Dutch men's field hockey title by beating Oranje Zwart of Eindhoven in the play-offs.
• 23 June – The women of HC Den Bosch clinch the Dutch women's field hockey title by beating HC Rotterdam in the play-offs.
• 26 August – The women of Argentina beat the Netherlands to win the Champions Trophy, held at the Wagener stadium in Amstelveen.
• 21 October – Driss El Himer wins the Amsterdam Marathon

• 7 February – Cheick Touré, Soccer player
• 15 April – Anna van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, daughter of Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène
• 30 August – Daan Hartemink, Malaysian footballer
• 19 November – Aidan Mikdad, Pianist

January edit

• 8 – Johan van der Keuken (1938), documentary film-maker

March edit

• 1 – Hannie Termeulen Swimmer
• 12 – Victor Westhoff Botanist
• 21 – Wim van der Kroft Canoeist

April edit

• 4 – Wim van der Linden
• 18 – Hans Dirk de Vries Reilingh Geographer
• 20 – Steven Blaisse Rower
• 29 – Barend Biesheuvel 44th Prime Minister of the Netherlands

May edit

• 27 – Bram van Leeuwen Entrepreneur

June edit

• 11 – Cornelis Verhoeven Philosopher and Writer
• 27 – Kees Stip Poet

July edit

• 9 – Arie van Vliet Cyclist
• 11 – Herman Brood Musician
• 12 – Ron Kroon Swimmer
• 27 – Piet Bromberg Field hockey player
• 31 – Joris Tjebbes Swimmer

August edit

• 4 – Jan van der Jagt Politician
• 6 – Wina Born Culinary journalist
• 8 – Noud van Melis Soccer player
• 20 – Sylvia Millecam Actress and comedian
• 23 – Herman Fokker Politician
• 28 – Theo Blankenauw Cyclist

September edit

• 7 – Jan Baas Baseball player

October edit

• 5 – Egbert van 't Oever Speed skater and Coach
• 22 – Ed Vijent Soccer player
• 28 – Gerard Hengeveld Pianist and Composer

November edit

• 29 – Jan van Beekum Composer

December edit

• 1 – Stan Haag Radio host
• 2 – Max Rood Politician
• 14 – Elisabeth Augustin Writer and Poet
• 19 – Hans Warren Poet
• 23 – Jelle Zijlstra 42nd Prime Minister of the Netherlands

• 2001 in Dutch television