International Bestselling Author | Lawyer | Witness Against Her Brother
Astrid Holleeder is a bestselling author and lawyer who, drawing on her unique personal history and years of experience in law, writes and speaks about courage, making difficult choices, and the power of truth.
Our consultants would be happy to advise you on how best to tailor the narrative to your specific target audience.
Astrid Holleeder is a bestselling author and lawyer who writes and speaks about courage, decision-making, and the power of breaking silence, drawing from her unique personal history and years of experience in the field of law. Astrid Holleeder is a lawyer and bestselling author known for her exceptional perseverance and sharp perspective on law, courage, and human resilience. From her unique position as the author of the international bestseller Judas—which was also adapted into a television series—as well as being a criminal defense lawyer and a witness in the high-profile criminal trial against her brother, top criminal Willem Holleeder, she speaks about the complexity of choices, justice, and surviving under pressure.
After earning her law degree, Astrid worked in both criminal and civil law. This combination gave her a broad understanding of the thin line between truth and perception, between being right and receiving justice. Her legal expertise, combined with her personal experiences, makes her storytelling raw, real, and deeply relatable for legal professionals as well as for anyone seeking to understand what resilience truly means.
Astrid’s books have been translated and published in more than thirteen countries. Yet she remains remarkably grounded. For Astrid, writing is a form of justice. Not through laws, but through words. Writing and speaking are her ways of offering perspective on trauma, recovery, and the strength to keep looking forward despite adversity. But it goes beyond that. It is also a path toward safety and freedom, for herself and for her family.
Writing is my way to safety and freedom.
In her lectures, Astrid explores themes such as law and morality, perseverance, trauma, and identity. She shows how her diverse roles—sister, witness, author—have shape her into someone both strong and empathetic. That balance between firmness and humanity makes her story exceptional: powerful without being distant, confronting yet hopeful. She informs as much as she inspires.
Organizations that invite Astrid do not receive a theoretical lecture but an honest, moving conversation about handling pressure, change, and moral complexity. She does not only speak about her past, but about how anyone can grow stronger through their own story. She challenges without condemning and encourages her audience to reflect on their own moral compass: how do you remain human in a ruthless world?
For Astrid, perseverance is not a theory but a way of life. She speaks candidly about dealing with adversity, finding strength in vulnerability, and continuing to move forward even when every instinct tells you to stop. Her story inspires audiences to endure, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Astrid believes in looking ahead. Not as an escape, but as direction. She shares how future-oriented thinking helped her maintain perspective in the most difficult times. In her talks, she explains how setting goals, no matter how small, gives both direction and meaning in personal life as well as within organizations undergoing change.
Few people understand prolonged pressure as deeply as Astrid. In her lectures, she explains how to remain clear-minded, find creative solutions, and stay emotionally grounded, even when circumstances are extreme. Her story is a lesson in mental resilience and courage. Valuable for anyone working or living in an environment where pressure is the norm.
Astrid Holleeder has an unparalleled understanding of both the upper world and the underworld. Two realities that seem worlds apart but are often closer than one might think. One is driven by power, fear, and loyalty; the other by laws, reputation, and social order. In her lectures, Astrid exposes the thin line between these worlds and what happens when they collide. She invites her audience to reflect on morality, integrity, and the choices that define our humanity.
This content is available after accepting marketing cookies.
Our specialists are ready to match the right expertise to your goals.
Get the latest insights and trends from top experts delivered straight to your inbox every month.
