Rutger Bregman

On stage, Rutger Bregman is energetic, clear, and thought-provoking — offering audiences both hope and practical inspiration to rethink what is possible, and what truly matters.

His books Utopia for Realists, Humankind: A Hopeful History, and his latest release Moral Ambition have sold more than two million copies worldwide, become international bestsellers, and been translated into over forty languages. In Utopia for Realists, Bregman makes a radical yet practical case for universal basic income, shorter working weeks, and more open borders. Humankind challenges the myth of human selfishness and offers a hopeful new perspective on who we are — a story now being developed into a documentary series.

In his newest book, Moral Ambition (English edition 2025), Bregman delivers a powerful call to action: to dedicate our limited working lives to the world’s biggest, most urgent, and most solvable challenges. Described as an antidote to apathy, the book explores how we can combine idealism with impact — and make our careers not only successful, but deeply meaningful.

Bregman began his career as a journalist and writer for De Volkskrant and the pioneering platform De Correspondent, where his essays earned nominations for the European Press Prize. He gained global recognition after his now-famous speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging the world’s elites to “start talking about taxes.” His TED Talk, “Poverty isn’t a lack of character, it’s a lack of cash,” has been viewed millions of times.

In 2024, he co-founded The School for Moral Ambition, an international network helping talented individuals move from “empty careers” into high-impact work that contributes to real change. In 2025, he delivers the prestigious BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures, titled Moral Revolution, exploring how morally driven movements can rebuild trust and challenge entrenched interests.

Photo by: Frank Ruiter