Wellbeing speaker: Maarten van der Weijden
Maarten van der Weijden is a speaker on wellbeing and enjoying your work: he was diagnosed with leukaemia at 19, won Olympic gold in 2008 and learned on the Elfstedentocht that energy is something you guard together. His keynotes of 30 to 60 minutes and workshops of 60 to 90 minutes are for staff days, annual meetings and programmes on sustainable employability.
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 wellbeing speaker for organisations that want to look further than a gym membership and a fruit bowl. For HR, prevention officers and boards who see people running on empty or dropping out, and who want to know what really makes a difference.
A good fit for:
staff days and annual meetings
programmes on wellbeing and sustainable employability
a wellbeing week or the launch of a new HR policy
teams that have just come through a hard period
What your audience takes away
Healthy is not the same as full of energy
After his cancer treatment Maarten first wanted to be able to live normally again. Only later did the question come back of what he still wanted to achieve. He found that energy does not only come from your body, but also from having a goal and from people who believe in you.
Energy is something you guard together
On the Elfstedentocht everyone saw Maarten swimming. Far fewer people saw the team that made sure he ate on time, rested and stayed sharp. Organisations work the same way: people who keep going for a long time rarely do it alone.
Knowing when to stop
In 2018 Maarten stopped his first Elfstedentocht swim after 163 kilometres. A year later he swam the full 200 kilometres. Taking your limits seriously is not weakness; it is what keeps you going.
Rest is part of performing
Anyone who has to perform for a long time needs to be able to ease off. Maarten learned that in elite sport. After a busy period, rest deserves as much attention as the next deadline.
Start small
The organisations where Maarten sees the most energy do little that is special. They are consistent: managers who really ask how people are doing, successes celebrated together, and room to say that something is not working.
The story behind it
Maarten van der Weijden was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2001, at 19. After his treatment he started swimming again, and in 2008 he won Olympic gold in the 10 km open water at Beijing. He then worked as a finance manager at Unilever.
Through his foundation he raised €18 million for 45 cancer research studies, including with the Elfstedentocht in 2019 and the Elfstedentriatlon in 2023. In 2026 he set out on the 22-stedentocht. After four days he had to stop for health reasons. That is part of his story about wellbeing too: listening to your body, even when your goal matters.
Maarten also wrote about this in a blog post: Wellbeing at work.
What the talk looks like
Beforehand you have a short call with Maarten about your audience and what is going on: workload, sick leave, a reorganisation or a new programme. He picks the moments from his story that fit.
A keynote lasts 30, 45 or 60 minutes, with or without Q&A. In an interactive workshop of 60 to 90 minutes participants work on the habits that make the difference in their own team. Maarten speaks in English and Dutch, on site or online. This theme is linked to resilience and teamwork. All formats are on lectures.
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
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 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
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
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