Radio Veronica operated from 1959 until 1975, founded by Hendrik "Bull" Verweij as the first offshore radio station targeting the Dutch audience. Before this venture, Verweij worked in the textile trade with his brothers, Jaap and Dirk. He recognized that the existing public broadcasting system failed to address the interests of the younger generation, who preferred foreign music stations.
The Rise of Offshore Radio
The Verweij brothers launched their radio operations in 1960, initially broadcasting from the German lightvessel Borkum Riff. By 1964, they acquired the trawler Norderney to expand their capabilities. Verweij acted as the driving force behind the business model for commercial radio in the Netherlands, introducing horizontal programming and advertising revenue streams that were previously absent from the state-funded system.
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Tensions arose when the radio ship Mebo II began broadcasting to the Dutch audience, threatening Veronica’s market share. Verweij and co-owner Norbert Jürgens attempted to sabotage the vessel, which was owned by Meister and Bollier. The goal was to force the ship into the six-mile territorial zone, where Dutch authorities could seize it. Jürgens hired three divers to damage the ship’s engine room; however, the resulting explosion forced an SOS call and led to the arrest of those involved. Verweij confessed on Dutch television to paying for the sabotage, though he claimed he only intended to draw the ship into territorial waters without causing harm. He and Jürgens were convicted and sentenced to one year in prison, with Verweij later receiving a three-month term.
Closure and Legacy
The controversy surrounding the Mebo II and the public support for the rival Radio Noordzee accelerated the Dutch government's move to ratify the Treaty of Strasbourg. This international agreement rendered offshore radio illegal, forcing both Veronica and Radio Noordzee to cease transmissions on 31 August 1974. Following the closure, Rob Out transformed the organization into the Veronica Omroep Organisatie, which became a significant broadcaster. Verweij, who reached his 100th birthday in 2009, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Arend Langenberg. He passed away in 2010 at a retirement home in Loosdrecht.
Fast facts
- Born: 1909, Hilversum
- Died: 19 February 2010, Loosdrecht
- Founder: Radio Veronica
- Term as president: 1959–1975
- Brothers and business partners: Jaap and Dirk
- Radio ships used: Borkum Riff, Norderney
Questions readers ask
Why did Bull Verweij start an offshore radio station?
He believed the Dutch public broadcasting system did not cater to the younger generation, who were already listening to foreign stations like Radio Luxemburg.
What led to the end of Radio Veronica?
The Dutch Parliament ratified the Treaty of Strasbourg, which outlawed offshore radio stations, forcing Veronica to close on 31 August 1974.
