Dutch striker Marc Overmars (c) celebrates his goal with teammates Arthur Numan (l) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. (Reuters)

The Dutch took a while to get going, waiting until the 29th minute before Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink broke the deadlock with a thundering freekick from just outside the penalty area.

Six minutes later Marc Overmars, who showed great pace on the left wing all through the match, found a loose ball just outside the box and thumped it home to put the Dutch 2-0 up.

Patrick Kluivert made it 3-0 a minute before halftime with a superb volley into the net from a Frank de Boer pass.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, fresh from his 19 million pounds ($27.3 million) move to English champions Manchester United, livened up the later part of the game.

Brought on to replace Clarence Seedorf in the 71st minute, he had two or three near-misses, before a well-placed header from a fine Boudewijn Zenden cross gave the home side their fourth goal.

The Dutch now have 11 points in group two, the same as Portugal who have played a game fewer and three behind leaders Ireland who beat Andorra 3-1 in Dublin. Cyprus stay fourth on seven points.