Bull Verweij

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Hendrik "Bull" Verweij (12 September 1909 – 19 February 2010) was a Dutch businessman who helped create offshore radio in the Netherlands. He co-founded Radio Veronica and was its president from the station’s start in 1959 until 1975. He was born in Hilversum, Netherlands, and died in Loosdrecht at the age of 100.

Early life and Veronica
Bull Verweij and his brothers Jaap and Dirk Verweij were initially in the textile trade. They believed the Dutch public broadcasting system did not attract younger listeners, who searched for programs on foreign stations. To reach that audience, they started Veronica, a commercial, offshore radio station broadcast from ships at sea. Veronica began on a lightship called the Borkum Riff and later bought a larger fishing trawler, the MV Norderney, in 1964. Veronica’s broadcasts brought new ideas to Dutch radio, including advertising and formats that focused on listeners’ preferences.

Impact on Dutch radio
Verweij is seen as a pioneer of commercial broadcasting in the Netherlands. He helped develop modern radio formats and introduced advertising to reach listeners outside the state-funded system. Veronica and the Verweij brothers played key roles in changing how Dutch people listened to radio.

Controversy around Mebo II
Verweij was involved in a controversial episode known as the Mebo II affair. Mebo II, another radio ship, was partly financed by Veronica’s owners and planned to broadcast off the English coast to reach the UK. Legal changes forced the ship to relocate and target the Dutch audience instead. To influence the situation, a plan was devised to sabotage the Mebo II so it would be brought within Dutch legal reach. Divers hired for the job sabotaged equipment, and the incident led to arrests. Verweij, along with others involved, was convicted and briefly imprisoned. Verweij later said he accepted responsibility for his role and regretted his actions. The episode increased sympathy for Radio Veronica’s rivals, contributed to growing support for new broadcasting laws, and helped lead to the closing of Veronica and Radio Noordzee in 1974.

Later life and legacy
Bull Verweij lived to 100 and received recognition for his influence on Dutch commercial radio. In 2009, he turned 100 and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the industry. He died peacefully in a retirement home in Loosdrecht.

Family
Bull Verweij and his brothers Jaap and Dirk founded Veronica together, establishing a new model for Dutch radio that emphasized commercial programming and audience-focused content.