The heart of tech in the heart of Amsterdam

Myrthe van der Erve works in the centre of Amsterdam at The Next Web. “I love being in the middle of tourists, business and fun. Our office is in one of the most central locations, right on the flower market and looking onto the Munttoren.”

Bring yourself, Myrthe will do the same

Myrthe van der Erve is 47 years old. She is CEO of the Next Web in Amsterdam.

Myrthe van der Erve

Myrthe has been The Next Web CEO for a year and was COO in the years before that. She joined the founding team and loved bringing people together and creating synergies. At TNW, the purpose is to connect the global tech ecosystem. “We are global super connectors for start-ups, scale-ups, corporations, governments and investors. We multiply their journeys through media, events, innovation programs and co-working spaces.”

Tech is at our core

Portrait Myrthe van der Erve the Next Web Amsterdam walks down the hallway

Amsterdam and its tech ecosystem has always been at the core. The founders of TNW started by organizing a tech event in Amsterdam to promote their start-up. In the end, the start-up did not survive, but the event has lived on to this day.

“We grew with this incredible sector and we believe we helped to grow that sector as well over the last 16 years. Collaboration is key and bringing people together to create synergies is very important to us.”

Moving back to Amsterdam made me realize how international, diverse and open this city is.

Knowledge and talent in Amsterdam

Portrait Myrthe van der Erve the Next Web Amsterdam creative workspace

Myrthe had lived in Amsterdam for 15 years and moved back there after 5 years in Switzerland. “Moving back to Amsterdam made me realize how international, diverse and open this city is. Many things may have changed here over the years, but everywhere you go the people are still chatty, open and interesting.”

“I believe collaboration is essential in getting to new levels of growth. Everything we do at TNW is with passion and respect for all the players in our ecosystem. We have been successful these past several years but now it is time for us to unite. Not only in Amsterdam, but across the Netherlands. We need to punch as one. Innovation is what drives economic growth.”

Business can be fun

Portrait Myrthe van der Erve the Next Web Amsterdam Startup ground

Through their events, TNW promotes, stimulates and empowers innovation and technology. They are working with the City of Amsterdam to see how they can build out the TNW conference week. Even though it’s a tech conference, it has a festival set-up with an expo hall, an outside area, a big Ferris wheel and lots of entertainment. “There are a lot of happy faces, but also valuable conversations. Our ultimate goal is to create success for start-ups”