Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) is congratulated by Arjen Robben
The Dutch went ahead with a stunning free-kick from Robin van Persie on 23 minutes before Ruud van Nistelrooy hit a sweet second four minutes later.
Bakari Kone pulled one back for the Ivorians when he smashed home from 25 yards after a powerful run.
But the Africans bowed out of the tournament as Holland held on for their second Group C victory.
The victory stretched Holland's run to 14 competitive matches unbeaten and sent a defiant message to group rivals Argentina who had emphatically despatched Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 earlier in the day.
Holland dominated the early exchanges and created the first real chance after five minutes when Mark van Bommel's teasing cross from the right flashed across the goal and just eluded Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy.
But they survived a penalty appeal after 12 minutes when Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue looked to be hauled down by Giovanni van Bronckhorst although the Ivorians' frantic appeals were ignored by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz.
The 31-year-old Van Bronckhorst, a midfielder by trade, was clearly marked out as the possible weak link in the Dutch defence and constantly had his hands full with Arouna Kone hot on his heels.
But Ivory Coast were suddenly stopped in their tracks when the Dutch eventually made the vital breakthrough.
Edwin van der Sar dives in vain for Bakari Kone's stunning strike
Van Persie was hacked down by his Arsenal team-mate Kolo Toure on the edge of the box and stepped up himself to curl home a sublime left-footed free-kick which had goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie clutching thin air.
And the Dutch tightened their grip on the game with a clinical second goal after 27 minutes.
Arjen Robben, Serbia and Montenegro's tormentor-in-chief in Holland's 1-0 victory on Sunday, surged forward on the left flank and played in Mark van Bommel.
Van Bommel worked it back to the Chelsea man, who cleverly threaded it through for Van Nistelrooy to lash home his first goal of the tournament.
Yet, just when it seemed Holland would start walking away with the match, the Ivorians struck back in dramatic fashion on 38 minutes.
Kone waltzed past two Dutch defenders before unleashing a stunning drive that flew into Edwin van der Sar's top corner - incredibly the first goal in competitive internationals the Manchester United stopper has conceded since October 2004.
The Dutch took the initiative after the break and Van Nistelrooy had a firm shot parried by the Ivory Coast goalkeeper after being set up by half-time substitute Khalid Boulahrouz.
But with Dider Zokora pulling the strings for the Ivorians, Holland were never comfortable.
The matched swayed from end to end with Robben always threatening to work an opening for the Dutch.
In the 77th minute Van Persie was forced to chest off his own line when Drogba's header found its way through a packed Holland goalmouth.
And in desperation, Kolo Toure tried his luck from 25 yards in injury time but his effort was deflected behind for a wasted corner.
Holland: Van der Sar, Heitinga (Boulahrouz 45), Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder (Van der Vaart 50), Van Bommel, Cocu, Van Persie, Robben, van Nistelrooy (Landzaat 73).
Subs Not Used: Babel, De Cler, Jaliens, Kromkamp, Kuyt, Maduro, Stekelenburg, Timmer, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Booked: Robben, Mathijsen, Van Bommel, Boulahrouz.
Goals: Van Persie 23, van Nistelrooy 26.
Ivory Coast: Tizie, Eboue, Kolo Toure, Meite, Boka, Zokora, Gneri Yaya Toure, Romaric (Yapi Yapo 61), Arouna Kone (Akale 73), Bakari Kone (Dindane 62), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Barry, Demel, Domoraud, Fae, Gnanhouan, Kalou, Keita, Kouassi, Zoro.
Booked: Zokora, Drogba, Boka.
Goals: Bakari Kone 38.
Att: 52,000
Ref: Julian Oscar Ruiz Acosta (Colombia).
Fifa man of the match: Arjen Robben.
TRIVIA
The Dutch have won their first two matches for the first time ever at a World Cup and have qualified for the second round for the sixth time out of six attempts. Only seven countries have always progressed through the group phase. Germany have done it 14 times out of 14 and are the only country ahead of the Dutch in this respect. This result also guaranteed a passage to the second round for Argentina. Holland need to beat Argentina to win Group C.
Ivory Coast's defeat means that the debutants have only one draw and seven defeats to show for their efforts so far. Trinidad & Tobago are the only one of the six countries making their inaugural appearance to have gained a point.
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar moved to within one cap of the Dutch record, winning his 111th in this game. Van der Sar's achievement of not conceding a goal in competitive matches came to an end after 1,014 minutes, when Bakary Kone netted in the 38th minute. It was the longest such streak in international football by a European goalkeeper.
50px The Netherlands beat Ivory Coast 2:1 which effectively knocked the African side out of the World Cup in Stuttgart, Friday.

The result meant both the Netherlands and Argentina moved into the knock-out round of the Fifa World Cup as they both had six points; while the Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro had no points with one game left in Group C. 

Gottlieb Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart.

Excitement in the first-half gave way to a gritty second-half as Marco van Basten's Orangemen changed to a more defensive formation and showed resilience to stop the Elephant's charge.

The Netherlands committed 24 fouls in the match but could not stop Ivory Coast taking 16 shots, nine of which hit the target. Late in the match Robin van Persie used his chest to stop a Didier Drogba header going over the goal line.

Henri Michel's side played an attractive passing game but as the game went on this proved ineffective against the wall of orange-shirted Netherlands defenders. A more direct approach might have been better; as the tall, 180 centimeter, forward Didier Drogba showed when Van Persie was forced to clear from a corner.

Edwin van der Sar, in the Netherlands goal, conceded his first goal for his country since October 2004 but was otherwise safe and did not allow any rebounds from shots. In the second period he was helped by the Netherlands defence who blocked numerous shots from reaching their destination.

The best of the entertainment was in the first half. The first goal led from a free kick earned by Van Persie on 22 minutes. Van Persie ran at speed horizonal to the penalty area and was cut down in full flight by Kolo Toure.

Van Persie took the free kick and hammered the ball left footed around the wall into the net. 

Suddenly Ivory Coast were opened up again three minutes later. Good passes and movement and Arjen Robben found Ruud van Nistelrooij in space to the right of Jean-Jacques Tizie. The striker passed the ball high over the keeper.

The two goal lead did not reflect the play which had seen some good moves by Ivory Coast and an Emmanuel Eboue penalty appeal rejected.

On 32 minutes creative midfielder Didier Zokora gave Van der Sar a warning when he smacked a powerful long range shot against his crossbar.

Seven minutes later Bakary Kone ran from the centre of the field to space on the Netherland's left side. Kone reached the edge of the penalty area and let fly with his right foot; the ball thumped into the top right of Van der Sar's goal.

At this point the Ivory Coast looked better than the Netherlands defence. On 42 minutes Drogba intercepted a misplaced pass but on the breakaway could not thread his pass to his team mate when 2 on 1 with the last defender.

It was not to be Ivory Coast's day. While Ivory Coast still looked to pass through the Netherlands the Dutch looked more than capable to hold out for the win.