One year later, he finished ninth in two different stages of that same race, and achieved two time-trial victories in one week, winning the prologues of the Delta Tour Zeeland and the Ster Elektrotoer.

Van Emden's next victory came at the 2013 Münsterland Giro, joining Marcel Kittel as a two-time winner of the race, having broken clear from a lead group in the closing kilometres.

[14][15] In 2015, Van Emden finished second in the time trial stage of the Tour of California, sitting in the leader's hot seat all day before being beaten by Peter Sagan.

[16] Two months later, Van Emden participated in his first Tour de France; he finished fifth in the opening time trial that took place in his home country.

[18] In 2016, Van Emden again won the opening time trial stage of the now-renamed Ster ZLM Toer,[19] ultimately finishing the race in third place overall.

[33] In August 2023, Van Emden announced his retirement from the sport as of the end of the season,[34] and became a directeur sportif with UCI Women's WorldTeam Visma–Lease a Bike.