Marleen Stikker: A Pioneer of Digital Freedom

A Visionary in Technology and Society

Marleen Stikker is a Dutch internet pioneer, entrepreneur, and activist who has spent decades fighting for open technology and digital rights. Born in 1962, she’s reshaped the internet into a public space, not just a corporate playground. Her mission? To make sure that technology serves people, not the other way around.

Founder of ‘De Digitale Stad’

In 1994, Stikker launched De Digitale Stad (The Digital City), the world’s first virtual community that brought the internet to the masses. At a time when the internet felt like a secret club, she saw it as a vibrant, democratic space where everyone could connect, create, and dream. It was bold, it was revolutionary, and it was pure Stikker.

Waag: A Lab for Social Innovation

Stikker’s brainchild, Waag, is a research institute in Amsterdam where art, technology, and social change come together. Here, she empowers open-source solutions, ethical AI, and digital sovereignty, ensuring innovation stays transparent and inclusive. From healthcare to urban development, her projects prove that technology can be a force for good when it’s built with – and for – people.

Advocate for Open Technology

Stikker has no patience for the ‘black box’ approach, where tech giants hide their secrets behind closed doors. She’s a fierce advocate for open-source software, fair AI, and user rights, and insists that people deserve to understand and control the tools they use. Her voice is a rallying cry for transparency in a world that often prefers shadows.

A Lasting Impact

Marleen Stikker’s legacy is a digital world that’s open, fair, and full of possibility. She inspires thinkers, makers, and activists to challenge big tech and keep the internet a space for everyone. Her vision isn’t just about technology – it’s about humanity, and it’s as bold as she is.

Quote Marleen Stikker

‘Het internet is stuk’
‘The internet is broken’