Rutger Lemm

About Rutger Lemm

Rutger Lemm has made a name for himself in recent years with personal, funny, interesting, and relatable essays, in which he does not shy away from his shortcomings. These stories came together in his first book, published in February 2015 by Bezige Bij: A Grand Failure, filled with stories about perfectionism and failure. His writing has appeared in nearly all major magazines and newspapers, particularly in NRC Handelsblad. Additionally, he was active for a time as a stand-up comedian with Comedytrain (he still writes jokes for Dit Was Het Nieuws). Thus, he also feels right at home on stage, as a presenter or speaker. He has a great talent for uniting light and heavier subjects and knows how to make every topic insightful with his personal touch. Rutger loves telling stories to an audience, but he is also an excellent interviewer or moderator. He can master nearly any theme: his expertise ranges from fear of failure to Nietzsche, and from Girls to Flaubert. He is intelligent without being too serious, and funny without resorting to clichés. Moreover, as the founder of the successful magazine hard//hoofd, he knows a great deal about online media and start-ups, as well as the downside in the form of burnout. With his funny and relatable lectures, he can help the audience see themselves differently and learn to deal with personal issues like fear of failure in a creative way; as a moderator, he ensures a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. Rutger Lemm (Amsterdam 1985) began writing for Spunk, NRC Handelsblad, and OOR immediately after his final exams. He studied history and philosophy in Amsterdam and Berlin. As a comedian, he reached the finals of the Culture Comedy Award and the Stand-Up Comedy Contest and became a member of Comedytrain under the guidance of Jan Jaap van der Wal. In 2008, he founded hard//hoofd, a respected online magazine where he was editor-in-chief for many years. Since then, his philosophical, humorous articles have appeared in, among others, Vrij Nederland, nrc.next, and De Standaard.