Conference speaker: Maarten van der Weijden
Maarten van der Weijden is a highly experienced conference speaker (more than 1,000 talks) who opens or closes conferences with one story: Olympic gold in 2008, leukaemia at 19 and an Elfstedentocht swim that only succeeded at the second attempt. He gives keynotes of 30, 45 or 60 minutes in English or Dutch, and can also chair the day.
No obligation · a tailored proposal within one working day
Talks given, for companies, healthcare, education and government
Olympic gold in the 10 km open water, Beijing
Swam the Elfstedentocht, in 2019
Raised for cancer research, 45 studies funded
Who it is for
Maarten van der Weijden is a conference speaker for organisers looking for an opening or closing keynote with a story that stays with people. He has spoken at the BSS Congress of the University of Groningen and at Het Februaricongres, among others. His story works for a room of eighty and for a room of eight hundred.
A conference often has a broad theme and an audience from many different organisations. Maarten sets out that theme through what he has lived through himself, so everyone in the room finds something they recognise.
A good fit for:
opening keynotes that set the theme of the day
closing keynotes that pull the day together and leave people with a concrete task
sector conferences in healthcare and education
faculty conferences at universities
conferences with an English-speaking audience
What your audience takes away
Resilience
Not everything can be controlled. What fails is part of the process, and being kind to yourself and your team is what keeps you trying. More on resilience speaker.
Leadership
Taking ownership without being asked, and bringing people with you towards a goal that is far away. More on leadership speaker.
Teamwork
You never win an Olympic medal on your own. About the team of specialists and hundreds of volunteers behind the Elfstedentocht. More on teamwork speaker.
The story behind the achievements
Around his book De laatste slag (2026) Maarten talks about the loss, pain and failure behind the successes. A keynote based on this story can also be booked.
The story behind it
At 19 Maarten was diagnosed with leukaemia. After that he started swimming again. In 2008 he won Olympic gold in the 10 km open water race in Beijing. From 2009 to 2015 he worked as a financial manager at Unilever.
He then went back into the water to raise money for cancer research. In 2018 he stopped his first attempt to swim the Elfstedentocht after 163 kilometres. In 2019 he swam the full 200 kilometres. In December 2023 he swam non-stop for 45 hours, a Guinness World Record, in honour of his best friend, who died of cancer. In total his foundation has raised €18 million for 45 cancer research studies.
His core message is simple: big goals take hard work, careful thinking and a lot of luck. If something fails, that does not automatically mean you did something wrong. And it is fine for something not to work out, as long as you try again.
What conference organisers say
At the faculty conference of the University of Groningen, the organisers said everyone was impressed and inspired by his story. At Het Februaricongres, the organisers heard from several visitors that the talk was very interesting, and that Maarten involved the audience. Their full feedback is below and on the clients page.
How it works for a conference
Briefing. After your request you have a short call with Maarten about the conference theme, the audience and the slot in the programme. An opening needs a different rhythm from a close.
Length and format. You choose a keynote of 30, 45 or 60 minutes, with or without Q&A. An interactive workshop of 60 to 90 minutes is possible on its own or combined with a keynote. Maarten can also chair the conference, for half a day or a full day.
Language and location. Maarten speaks in English and Dutch, on site or online.
Technology. A microphone, a screen and a clicker. There are no other special requirements.
Booking. Send a request with the date, location and audience. Within one working day you get availability, a proposal and the terms. Read more about the role of a main speaker on keynote speaker. All formats are on talks.
Last checked on
Maarten on setting goals
Formats
Every session is prepared with you in advance, around your organisation, your audience and the goal of the day.
| Format | Length | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Keynote | 30, 45 or 60 minutes | The story, the lessons, and what they mean for your organisation. |
| Keynote with Q&A | 45 to 75 minutes | A keynote followed by questions from the audience, with or without a moderator. |
| Interactive workshop | 60 to 90 minutes | Hands-on work with a smaller group on goals, setbacks and teamwork. |
| Event host | Half day or full day | Maarten hosts your programme: he opens, links the speakers and keeps the day on track. |
- Language:
- Dutch and English
- Location:
- On site or online
- For:
- Companies · Healthcare · Education · Government · Sport · Associations
Feedback
Maarten van der Weijden heeft een heel mooie lezing neergezet op ons facultaire congres van de RUG. Iedereen was onder de indruk en geïnspireerd door zijn bijzondere verhaal.
Ruben SiebeltBSS Congress, Rijksuniversiteit GroningenCongres Wij kregen van verschillende bezoekers de terugkoppeling dat de lezing van Maarten erg interessant was. De manier van spreken en zijn verhaal waren erg inspirerend. Ook was het leuk dat Maarten het publiek erbij betrok.
Het Februaricongres★★★★★ 5/5 · Congres
Book Maarten directly
You talk to Maarten himself, from the first question until after the talk. That way his story fits what is going on in your organisation.
A personal intake call
You discuss your audience, your goal and what is going on right now directly with Maarten.
A proposal within one working day
You quickly receive a concrete, tailored proposal with format, length and fee.
Tailored to your audience
Examples and emphasis fit your sector and the theme of the day.
Short lines
Your request reaches Maarten directly and he replies himself.
Frequently asked questions
Can Maarten give the keynote and chair the conference?
Does Maarten speak at English-language or international conferences?
How does the keynote connect to our conference theme?
What does Maarten need on stage?
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