De laatste slag — Maarten van der Weijden's new book
Maarten van der Weijden's new book is about the loss, pain and failure behind the achievements, and why he swam the Elfstedentocht one more time in 2019. Published in Dutch by Ambo|Anthos on 15 October 2026.
Available in Dutch from bookshops and online (ISBN 9789026375910).
Beter, his first book
About the long road from a leukaemia diagnosis in 2001 to Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008. Honest, down to earth and without making it prettier than it was. Maarten has the last copies himself, and signs them for you. The book is in Dutch.
Hardcover · ISBN 9789047608318
“Zoals hij in zijn eigen boek vertelt gaat het niet om karakter en de wil om te overleven, maar puur over kans en geluk. Hij maakt het niet mooier dan het is.”
Reader on bol.com (Dutch) “Heel mooi boek, ik had al bewondering voor Maarten, die is na het lezen van dit boek alleen maar toegenomen.”
Reader on bol.com (Dutch) “Zeer goed beschreven levensverhaal. Normaal lees ik dit soort boeken helemaal niet maar was hier wel nieuwsgierig naar.”
Reader on bol.com (Dutch)
What the book is about
De laatste slag tells the part of Maarten's story that rarely makes the headlines. The Olympic gold, the record swims and the €18 million raised for cancer research are well known. This book is about what lies behind them.
Maarten writes about the death of his father and of his best friend, and about the end of his marriage. He writes about his second attempt at the Elfstedentocht, a 200 km swim through eleven towns in the Dutch province of Friesland, after failing to finish the year before. He writes about survivor's guilt. And he explains where the donations went.
- Title: De laatste slag
- Publisher: Ambo|Anthos
- Published: 15 October 2026
- Price: €22.99
- ISBN: 9789026375910
- Language: Dutch
Who it is for
For readers who followed Maarten's swims and want to know what they cost him. For anyone dealing with loss, illness or a goal that did not work out the first time. And for organisers who want to understand the story before they book him to tell it on stage.
The book is currently available in Dutch only.
The keynote based on the book
Maarten also tells this story as a keynote. It is the most personal version of his talk: about failure, loss and going back to try again, and what that means for people and teams who are under pressure. Like all his talks, it is tailored to your organisation and your audience in advance.
The keynote is available in Dutch and English. Book Maarten through the contact page and mention the book in your request.