In the Premier League’s 25-year history, a sizeable number of Dutch footballers have plied their trade in English soil.

Many have flattered to deceive in the world’s best football league, others have managed to make decent careers.

However, there are also a select few that have managed to take the league by storm and thus have etched their legacy in Premier League history.

In this article, we name the Top 5 best Dutchmen to grace the Premier League, using facts and figures to reinforce our claims.

To whittle down the list of great Dutchmen to just five has been an extremely difficult task and undoubtedly opinions will differ from person to person. After much thinking, these are the five that have made the cut, but we would also like to extend our awareness of a number of players, including, Arjen Robben, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Marc Overmars, Ruud Gullit and Rafael Van Der Vaart.

Although all of those incredible players were superb in the Premier League, each of those listed in our Top 5 performed marginally better. Take a look…

5. Jaap Stam

Now Reading manager, Stam.

A man mountain at the back and quite possibly the scariest man to ever play in the Premier League (Although Roy Keane definitely offers competition), Jaap Stam is at number five.

The Dutch centre-back only played three seasons in the Premier League at Manchester United, but he more than made his mark.

During that spell, he won pretty much everything at the club: three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Although he was not much of a goal threat (he only scored once in 127 appearances), it could be argued Stam was one of the best central defenders in the Premier League era.

His presence at the back can be considered vital when you compare Manchester United’s form in the Premier League from 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Although he would play a bit part in 2000-2001 due to injury, his presence was clearly effectual as Manchester United had the best defence in the league, conceding 31 goals in 38 games.

Stam would leave that summer, and as a result Manchester United would falter as they finished third, conceding 45 goals the following term.

His influence can be no greater summed up than by legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson himself, who conceded that selling Stam was his greatest managerial mistake in his 27-year tenure at Manchester United.

If that doesn’t sum up Stam’s greatness, I don’t know what does.

4. Robin Van Persie

Coming in at number four is former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, Robin Van Persie.

‘RVP’ was known for his incredible left foot and finishing ability, which he used to score a number of spectacular goals during his stay in England.

Van Persie was blighted by injuries in his early career at Arsenal and although his potential was plain to see, he did not seem to fulfil his potential until the 2010-2011 season.

Having joined in 2004, in six seasons, ‘RVP’ would only feature 131 times in the Premier League, scoring 48 goals at 0.37 goals per game.

But he would have an upturn in fortune after that, and in his remaining five campaigns, he would play 149 times and score 96 times, at a strike rate of 0.64 per game.

That included an incredible 37-goal season at Arsenal. The following term, Van Persie made the switch to Manchester United in a £22.5m move and would be in unstoppable form once again, winning the Golden Boot for a second consecutive year with a 26-goal tally.

Although he would suffer from injuries again in the following years, these two seasons alone confirmed his status as one of the Premier League’s greats.

3. Edwin Van Der Sar

At number three, we have possibly the greatest goalkeeper to ever play in the Premier League, Edwin Van Der Sar.

The legendary shot stopper first entered the league in 2001, having joined Fulham from Juventus for £7.1m.

Although he would establish himself as a good Premier League ‘keeper, the accolades did not come his away until 2006 where he earned a move to English giants, Manchester United. Individually, he broke a number of records, including going 1,311 minutes in the league without conceding a goal, which would also become a world record.

He also won Best European Goalkeeper in 2009, and was included in the PFA Team of the year three times in his Manchester United career.

At 40 years and 205 days old, he also became the oldest man to win the Premier League. Collectively, he also won 25 trophies, which includes two Champions League triumphs and four Premier League titles.

This tally makes him the second most decorated goalkeeper of all-time in terms of trophies won.

2. Ruud Van Nistelrooy

The second best Dutchmen to have graced the Premier League is Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman arrived in England with a reputation for scoring goals, having scored 75 in 91 games in all competitions for PSV Eindhoven. So with a goalscoring reputation and a lofty £18.5m price tag, would Van Nistelrooy turn out to be a flop? No chance.

Van Nistelrooy was able to replicate this form and he managed to score goals in the Premier League for fun. He was the ultimate poacher in front of goal. In five seasons at Old Trafford, he broke the 20-goal barrier in the league four times.

The only season he didn’t was 2004-2005, where he was plagued with injury problems and thus only reached six strikes.

But this wasn’t enough to tarnish his legacy as one of the all-time great goalscorers in England. Overall, he was able to muster a total of 150 goals in 219 appearances at Manchester United at a rate of 0.685 goals a game.

Although he would later fall out with Alex Ferguson and make a £14m move to Real Madrid in 2006, Van Nistelrooy was an extraordinary goalscorer who tore up the Premier League at United.

1. Dennis Bergkamp

This was a complete no-brainer. Whereas the other four on the list jostled for position, Bergkamp was always going to be number one.

Unfortunately I was fairly young when he was at his peak in the Premier League, but from what I can remember, accompanied by countless viewings of Premier League years, it is safe to say that Bergkamp is the greatest Dutchman to ever grace the Premier League. What a genius.

He was not a great goalscorer considering he played as a forward. In fact, he was not able to break the 10-goal mark in the Premier League until after his fourth season at Arsenal.

In all competitions, he ‘only’ managed 120 goals in 423 appearances in North London. But Bergkamp was not known for his goalscoring ability, he mostly left that to his strike partner, Thierry Henry.

He was known for his all round genius on the ball, his elegance, his technical wizardry. There was not much he could not do.

Bergkamp was strong, quick, good in the air and superb with his feet. He could pass, he could assist, he could score when presented with an opportunity. Statistics don’t do the great man justice.

You must watch his highlights to fully appreciate the genius that was Bergkamp. He is undoubtedly the greatest Dutchman to ever play in the Premier League.