Securing the Dutch Railway (NS) with Dimitri van Zantvliet | Cyber Security District Podcast
In this episode of Cyber Security District, we sit down with Dimitri van Zantvliet, one of the most respected CISOs in the Netherlands and the current Chief Information Security Officer at the Dutch Railway (NS). Dimitri’s career spans from electromechanical engineering on offshore rigs to becoming a national authority on cybersecurity, advising startups, governments, and international councils.
He’s the co-founder of the Dutch CISO community, an angel investor, a public speaker, and Dutch ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI. Dimitri also serves on advisory boards such as TNO and the University of Amsterdam’s Leadership Academy, shaping the future of digital security on multiple levels.
In this episode, we dive into:
- How Dimitri manages multiple leadership roles with purpose
- His early transition from engineering into cybersecurity
- Why public transport is a vital piece of national resilience
- NS’s approach to defending against state actors and activist threats
- What makes a strong CISO in today’s geopolitical climate
- The rise of responsible AI and why it matters now more than ever
- His advice for cybersecurity founders and next-gen professionals
Dimitri shares powerful insights on threat intelligence, incident response, ethical AI, and the evolving role of CISOs in a world shaped by hybrid threats and rapid technological change.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Managing Multiple Roles 04:17 - From Engineering to Cybersecurity 06:54 - Leadership Lessons Learned 10:14 - Importance of Certifications and Grit 13:06 - Cybersecurity Challenges at NS 17:20 - State Actors, NATO, and Public Transport Threats 23:00 - What Makes a Great CISO 28:09 - Responsible AI and Smart Cities 30:38 - Investing in Startups and Supporting Founders 34:45 - Tech Areas to Watch: Compliance, Anomaly Detection, AI Agents 42:41 - Unlimited Resources: What He'd Solve First 44:02 - Advice for Young Cybersecurity Professionals 46:05 - A Final Message to CISOs Worldwide
Connect with the guest: Dimitri van Zantvliet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanzantvliet/
Follow Cybersecurity District: Laurens Jagt (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurensjagt/ Website: https://www.cybersecuritydistrict.com/ All channels & newsletter: https://beacons.ai/cybersecuritydistrict
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