Keynotes and talks by Maarten van der Weijden
Maarten has given more than 1,000 talks. A talk by Maarten gives your audience a story they will remember, and lessons they can use on Monday morning. Each lesson comes from something he lived through: cancer at 19, Olympic gold, and challenges that succeeded and failed. Afterwards, the room understands that not everything can be controlled, that what fails is part of the process, and that kindness to yourself and your team keeps you trying.
Maarten van der Weijden is a highly experienced keynote speaker (more than 1,000 talks) on resilience, leadership and teamwork. He was diagnosed with cancer at 19, won Olympic gold in 2008, swam the 200 km Elfstedentocht in 2019 after a failed first attempt, and raised €18 million for cancer research through his foundation. His core message: it's allowed to fail sometimes, and big goals take hard work, clear thinking and a lot of luck. His talks run 30 to 60 minutes, in English or Dutch, on site or online, for companies, healthcare, education and government.
Topics
Resilience
Not everything can be controlled. What fails is part of the process, and kindness to yourself and your team keeps you trying.
Who it is for: Teams under pressure, healthcare and education organisations, organisations going through change.
- How to use small goals to reach big ones
- What a team gains when setbacks can be talked about openly
- The difference between perseverance and stubbornness
Example titles: “The last stroke” · “Keeping going when it isn't working”
View topicLeadership
Take ownership before anyone asks you to.
Who it is for: Boards, management teams, team leaders and leadership programmes.
- Making decisions under pressure
- What you do as a leader on the day things go wrong
- Getting people behind a goal that lies further ahead than this quarter
Example titles: “Leading when the plan fails” · “Ownership without being asked”
View topic
Teamwork
Nobody wins an Olympic medal on their own.
Who it is for: Team days, kick-offs and departments that need to reach a big goal together.
- What a team needs when the plan stops working
- Who does what on a 200 km swim with hundreds of volunteers
- Giving honest feedback without spoiling the atmosphere
Example titles: “Never alone” · “The team behind the Elfstedentocht”
View topicA talk built around your theme
If your organisation has an annual theme, a conference theme or a specific issue to address, Maarten builds a talk around it, with his own story as the thread. You agree on the angle together in a short call first.
Formats and length
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
More than 1,000 talks. You'll notice.
Maarten has spoken in conference halls, at kick-offs, in hospitals and at schools. That experience shows in how he approaches your event, from the first call to the applause.
Tailored to your event
In one introductory call he hears what's going on, and turns his story into one about your organisation.
“Met enkel een kennismakingsgesprek wist hij meteen zijn verhaal te vertalen naar een verstrengeld verhaal met het verhaal van de opdrachtgever.”
IINII Special Projects Your goal in his story
He links what he lived through to your goals and values, so the message sticks long after the day itself.
“De link met het bedrijf Unilever en ons jaar-doel werd meerdere keren herhaald in de lezing en dat maakte het super sterk.”
Petra Bauer, Unilever Food Solutions Told freely, with the room
No slides needed. He tells his story, reads the room and involves the audience, with humour and no hero story.
“Fijn dat het zonder powerpoint was, vertelde makkelijk, op duidelijk toon en met passie.”
Maikel Hustinx, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis No worries for you
After more than 1,000 talks he knows what an event day needs: tech, timing, and a smooth handover to and from the host.
“Maarten was briljant. Eén van de beste keynotes, zoniet de beste, die ik ooit zag.”
Yannick Dillen
How booking works
Enquiry
You send a request with the date, location and audience.
Proposal
Within one working day you get availability, a proposal and the terms.
Tailoring
A short call to tailor the content to your organisation.
The day itself
Maarten speaks at your event. Afterwards you receive photos and brief feedback.
Maarten on setting goals
What organisers say
De zaal was laaiend enthousiast! De link met het bedrijf Unilever en ons jaar-doel werd meerdere keren herhaald in de lezing en dat maakte het super sterk. Van meerdere mensen gehoord dat ze dit een van de beste sprekers in tijden vonden.
Petra BauerUnilever Food Solutions★★★★★ 5/5 Wat hebben wij genoten van Maarten van der Weijden! Voor ons een schot in de roos. Maarten zijn boodschap, de opbouw van zijn verhaal, zijn aanwezigheid en wijze van presenteren was ‘spot on’ en heeft veel los gemaakt bij mij en onze gasten.
Radboud van der HoornEurocross Assistance Maarten was briljant. Eén van de beste keynotes, zoniet de beste, die ik ooit zag.
Yannick Dillen★★★★★ 5/5 Met enkel een kennismakingsgesprek wist hij meteen zijn verhaal te vertalen naar een verstrengeld verhaal met het verhaal van de opdrachtgever. Ontroerende en inspirerende woorden met een dikke bak humor. Bijzonder hoe hij met 2 zinnen iedereen om zijn vinger windt.
IINII Special Projects Zijn verhaal raakte en wist iedereen van begin tot eind te boeien. Maarten deelde zijn persoonlijke ervaringen en daarmee wist hij ons te inspireren. Zijn boodschap sloot ook perfect aan bij onze kernwaarden.
Laura VijfhuizenArbo Unie★★★★★ 5/5 Inspirerend en sloot aan op onze wensen. Fijn dat het zonder powerpoint was, vertelde makkelijk, op duidelijk toon en met passie.
Maikel HustinxAlbert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis★★★★★ 5/5 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
Frequently asked questions
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De laatste slag
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, 15 October 2026 · € 22,99
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