jaap

Jaap is a Dutch masculine given name. It is a diminutive form of Jacob or Jacobus and derives from the Hebrew Yaakov, meaning “holder of the heel” or “supplanter.” In the Netherlands—and to a lesser extent in Flanders—Jaap has long been used as an independent given name rather than only as a nickname, and it remains common across generations. The pronunciation is typically rendered as yaap, with a long “a.”

Notable people named Jaap include Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, a Dutch politician who served as Secretary General of NATO from 2004 to 2009; Jaap Stam, a former Dutch international footballer; Jaap van Zweden, a Dutch conductor and violinist; and Jaap van Dissel, a Dutch physician who has led the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). These figures illustrate the name’s continued presence in Dutch public life.

Outside the Netherlands, Jaap is less common but appears within Afrikaans-speaking communities and among Dutch expatriates. In more formal contexts, individuals named Jaap may use Jacob or Jacobus, with Jaap functioning primarily as a familiar or informal form. The name’s usage remains strongly associated with Dutch heritage and naming traditions.