Dutch historian and speaker

Rutger Bregman

Rutger Bregman is a historian, writer, and international speaker with a mission: to show that the world can be better—and how we ourselves can help make it so. With his bestsellers ‘'De meeste mensen deugen', 'Gratis geld voor iedereen' and 'Morele ambitie' he sharpened the global debate on poverty, inequality, and human behavior. His TED Talk was named one of the best of the year, and his books have been translated into 46 languages. Rutger combines sharp analysis with a hopeful message and captures the imagination of everyone who believes in progress, from students to CEOs.

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About Rutger Bregman

Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and writer who gained international recognition for his ideas on basic income, human nature, and moral leadership. His book 'De meeste mensen deugen' became a worldwide bestseller and sold more than 1.5 million copies. 'Gratis geld voor iedereen' (2017) and 'Morele ambitie' (2024) also found international success and reached the bestseller lists of the New York Times and the Sunday Times. His work has since been translated into 46 languages.

Rutger was born in Renesse as the son of a minister and a special education teacher. He studied history at Utrecht University and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Although he initially considered an academic career, he chose journalism. He started at de Volkskrant and later made a name for himself as a journalist at De Correspondent, where he wrote for ten years about economics, history, and society.

In 2024, together with a team, he founded 'The School for Moral Ambition': a foundation that helps people choose a career with impact. The initiative is inspired by his book 'Morele ambitie', in which he advocates for moral leadership in politics, business, and education. In April 2025, the English-language edition was published: 'Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference'.

Sessions

Every career lasts about 2,000 workweeks. How you spend that time may be the most important choice of your life. Yet millions of people are stuck in jobs that are boring, meaningless, or even harmful—to themselves and to the world. According to historian and author Rutger Bregman, this is the greatest waste of our time: the waste of talent.

His answer? Moral ambition.

Instead of striving for a hefty salary, an impressive job title, or a corner office, Bregman argues for a different kind of success: a career devoted to the biggest challenges of our time. Think of tackling climate change, preventing new pandemics, or confronting powerful industries like Big Tobacco.

In this inspiring lecture, Bregman challenges his audience to look at work and success differently. He shows that moral ambition has nothing to do with idealism without impact, but rather with purpose, courage, and effectiveness. Whether you’re at the start of your career or ready for a new direction, this story inspires both thinking and action.

There is one idea that has shaped our thinking about politics, the economy, and society for centuries: the belief in the depravity of humankind. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker—the conviction that humans are driven by self-interest is deeply rooted in the Western worldview. It colors the news, the laws, and the institutions that shape our daily lives. But what if it isn’t true? In his international bestseller De meeste mensen deugen, Rutger Bregman casts a radical—and surprisingly hopeful—light on 200,000 years of human history. His central message: people are good by nature. We evolved to cooperate, not to compete. Trust and kindness are not naive ideals, but our greatest strength. Through unforgettable stories—from the real ‘Lord of the Flies’ story to the solidarity during the Blitz, from the flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the remarkable brotherhood that helped bring about the end of apartheid—Bregman shows that a more positive view of human nature is not only more realistic, but also the key to genuine change. In this powerful and inspiring lecture, Rutger challenges his audience to look at the world differently: with more trust, more hope, and more courage. Because if we dare to see the best in people, we can build a better society together—and a more hopeful future.

"“Rutger Bregman’s insights, combined with the much-needed uncomfortable truth, have always added tremendous value to our events. He challenges existing assumptions and stimulates deep reflection. We are therefore pleased to welcome him again as a critical and inspiring voice.”"

Love Tomorrow Summit

""Rutger Bregman's idea of 'Moral Ambition' resonated with me and my fellow students at Harvard. His message—that talent should be directed toward solving the world's greatest challenges rather than chasing status—sparked a powerful response on campus. More than 150 students filled a lecture hall to hear him speak, which shows how much need there is for a meaningful definition of success. Rutger's lecture was inspiring, timely, and exactly the kind of conversation elite institutions need.""

Harvard University

"Bregman gave a powerful talk that has got us thinking. All attendees are inspired to maximize their impact."

ASML

"In a room filled with some of the most dynamic young philanthropists, investors, social innovators, and next-generation leaders from around the world, Rutger did more than just speak; his call to action on the NEXUS Global Summit stage lit a fire. His bold, hopeful vision of what humanity is capable of serves as a perfect antidote to the raw cynicism of our time. What made his talk particularly powerful was not only the clarity of his thinking, but above all his uncompromising belief in the good. In a time when despair often feels like the default, Rutger offered another path: a path rooted in dignity, generosity, boundless potential, and the courage to dare to dream bigger. This is the message our generation needs. A narrative that not only tells us what is wrong, but above all what is possible—and how we ourselves can be the architects of a fairer and more beautiful world. His first talk at our NEXUS Europe Summit was so well received that we asked him to return as a keynote speaker at the NEXUS Global Summit in New York. It was an honor to host him and work with him, and given the overwhelmingly positive responses, it’s clear that his words will echo for a long time to come, far beyond our own community."

Nexus