In an era where digital disruption intersects with critical national infrastructure, cybersecurity leadership in transportation is more essential than ever. The Netherlands, a hub for rail, maritime, aviation, and public mobility, boasts a growing cadre of cybersecurity leaders whose work goes beyond traditional IT protection to safeguard entire systems that keep people and goods moving. From securing rail networks and shipbuilding operations to defending airline systems and airports, these professionals stand at the forefront of security strategy and operational resilience.
This list highlights influential CISOs and security leaders across the Dutch transportation ecosystem. Some hold formal CISO titles, others lead cybersecurity teams without that exact designation, but all have a proven track record of innovation, influence, and impact. For more inspiration or comparison, see our comprehensive list of CISOs to watch anchored around high‑impact security leadership within key industries.
Dimitri van Zantvliet — Directeur Cybersecurity / CISO, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways)
Dimitri van Zantvliet leads cybersecurity for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the backbone of Dutch public transport. As Cybersecurity Director and CISO, he’s steered NS through a period of rapid digital transformation where operational technology, legacy systems, and AI‑driven solutions converge. Under his guidance, NS won the European Cyber Award for excellence in securing critical infrastructure, a recognition of the organization’s foresight in bridging security with modernization. His role also involves steering strategic industry forums, including the European Rail ISAC, where rail CISOs exchange threat intelligence and best practices.Â
Van Zantvliet’s perspective goes beyond technical defense; he advocates for resilience at every level of operation. At events like Dutch IT Security Day he’s emphasised the importance of robust security intelligence and the need to manage legacy OT systems alongside modern IT. A prolific thought leader, he frequently speaks and writes about cyber risk, regulatory trends like NIS2, and the wider implications of digital sovereignty in critical infrastructure.Â
Pieter de Lange — Chief Information Security Officer, Transdev Nederland
As CISO at Transdev Nederland, Pieter de Lange brings deep global experience in information security, compliance, and risk management to one of the world’s leading mobility providers. Transdev’s operations span buses, trains, ferries, and taxis, meaning de Lange’s remit touches diverse transport modes and integrates security across complex service networks. His approach blends threat mitigation with strong governance and stakeholder engagement, ensuring security doesn’t operate in a silo but as a business enabler.
De Lange is passionate about making security understandable and actionable across all levels of the organisation. Whether aligning security strategy with compliance obligations or fostering security culture, he delivers pragmatic leadership that supports innovation without compromising protection. His strategic vision helps position Transdev’s cybersecurity program as foundational to safe, modern mobility experiences.
Bram van Altena — Director & CISO, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Bram van Altena leads cybersecurity at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, one of the world’s oldest and most globally connected airlines. In his role as Director and CISO, he oversees the protection of critical aviation systems, passenger data, and operational infrastructure that support the airline’s extensive European and intercontinental network. With aviation becoming increasingly digital, from aircraft systems and logistics to customer platforms, his work sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, operational resilience, and aviation safety.
Van Altena brings decades of experience within KLM, giving him a deep understanding of how cybersecurity must align with the operational realities of global air travel. His leadership helps ensure that cybersecurity practices evolve alongside the airline’s digital transformation, protecting both passenger trust and the operational continuity of a major international carrier in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Hans Quivooij — Chief Information Security Officer, Damen Shipyards
At Damen Shipyards, a global maritime builder, Hans Quivooij serves as CISO with a focus on embedding cybersecurity into every aspect of the organization’s digital and operational infrastructure. With decades of IT and architecture experience, Quivooij has helped Damen transition toward a security‑by‑design model, ensuring that shipbuilding platforms, many of which power critical sea freight, energy, and naval systems, are protected from emerging threats. He’s been instrumental in shaping how the company approaches governance, risk, and secure architecture across international operations.
In the maritime domain, where operational reliability is often as critical as digital security, he blends technical know‑how with strategic leadership. His work exemplifies how CISOs in transport sectors must go beyond traditional IT roles to protect hybrid environments that include OT, embedded systems, and large, distributed networks.Â
Joseph Mager — Information Security Officer (Deputy CISO Role), Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Joseph Mager is a seasoned information security leader at NS, where he serves as an Information Security Officer with responsibilities that include company‑wide compliance and advisory functions. While not always holding the formal CISO title, Mager’s work influences how NS prepares for evolving regulations such as privacy laws and the EU’s NIS2 directive. He advises project teams on appropriate security measures and handles incident response when breaches occur, helping ensure continuity for one of Europe’s busiest rail systems.
Mager’s deep focus on governance, risk, and compliance, especially in a critical infrastructure context, makes him a key figure in NS’s broader security strategy. His contributions help translate policy into practice, empowering business units to manage risk effectively within operational and regulatory frameworks.
Gerben van Dijke — Chief Information Security Officer, ProRail
Gerben van Dijke stands out as CISO at ProRail, the organisation managing Dutch railway infrastructure. His leadership is grounded in strategic insight and pragmatic execution, tackling cybersecurity risks in one of the most complex and safety‑critical environments in the country. Rail infrastructure touches signalling, bridges, tunnels, and coordination systems that keep trains running on time, and van Dijke’s role ensures these systems remain robust against evolving threats.
Van Dijke emphasises that cybersecurity is not an optional overlay but a strategic priority woven into business decisions. He balances risk and compliance while building organisational trust and readiness, translating technical risk into comprehensible language for executive stakeholders.
Charting the Future of Transportation Cyber Leadership
The transportation sector is rapidly digitalising, and with that comes complex security challenges that traditional IT models alone can’t address. The CISOs and security leaders featured here represent a cross‑section of the Netherlands’ transportation industry, all working to build resilient, secure mobility ecosystems.
Their work demonstrates that modern transportation security requires strategic vision, cross‑functional collaboration, and a deep understanding of both technological risk and operational imperatives. Whether through innovative use of threat intelligence, strategic governance, or security culture building, these leaders are shaping how critical infrastructure withstands emerging threats, and their influence makes them essential figures for any discussion about cybersecurity leadership in transportation sectors.