Holland ran up double figures against San Marino as they moved to the brink of Euro 2012 qualification.

Robin van Persie made the most of his break from Arsenal's early-season struggles, scoring four goals, and Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar added two each.

John Heitinga, Dirk Kuyt and Georgino Wijnaldum were also on target as Group E minnows San Marino's goal difference slipped to -43 after eight games.

The match brought together the world number one team against one sharing last place in FIFA's rankings, and the only doubt appeared to centre over how many Holland would score.

And it took only seven minutes for the opener to arrive. Sneijder and Kuyt had already seen shots blocked before Mark van Bommel played in Van Persie to finish right-footed from close range.

The Gunners forward turned provider five minutes later as his lay-off allowed Sneijder to find the net from 20 yards.

Kuyt shot over but then crossed for Heitinga to head the third in the 18th minute, but surprisingly there were no further goals before the interval.

San Marino'sAndy Selva had the audacity to shoot wide from 25 yards but it was otherwise one-way traffic, with Sneijder, Heitinga and Van Persie - twice - threatening a fourth goal.

It came within four minutes of the restart as Kuyt turned in Huntelaar's cross, and there was no question of the Oranje easing up from that point.

Sneijder lashed an ambitious free-kick over the bar before setting up Huntelaar to tap in the fifth (75).

Selva's one-man attempts to give the visitors an attacking threat became more frantic as he shot wide from more than 35 yards, but it was Holland who stretched their lead as Van Persie completed his hat-trick.

Kuyt crossed from the right for his team-mate to rifle home his second in the 65th minute, and his third followed three minutes later from a similar delivery from Huntelaar on the left.

Huntelaar made it eight with his second, slotting home from Kevin Strootman's cross, and Sneijder nodded the ball down for Van Persie to score the ninth.

Sneijder shot over and substitute Eljero Elia, on for Kuyt, forced overworked San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini to superbly tip his shot around the post.

Sneijder brought up double figures in the 87th minute from Van Persie's deft through-ball.

And Wijnaldum, who had only been introduced in place of Strootman in the 86th minute, managed to get his name on the scoresheet in injury time after being teed up by fellow substitute Hedwiges Maduro.