From 1960 the offshore radio station transmitted from a former German lightvessel the "Borkum Riff" and in 1964 the three brothers decided to buy a larger trawler that was destined for scrapping: the Norderney.

In addition, the Dutch government threatened to ratify new international Treaty of Stasbourgh that would make offshore radio illegal which would also be the end of Veronica.

Co-owner and advertising manager Norbert Jürgens advised Verweij to sabotage the anchors of the Mebo II so it would drift within the 6 mile-zone, bringing the ship within (legal) reach of Dutch law and getting it confiscated for having illegal radio transmission equipment on board.

Without talking to Verweij, Jürgens changed the job for three divers hired to sabotage the anchored and orders them to actually bomb an old-line in the engine room to start a fire that would force the Mebo II to be towed to the nearest harbor (or let the ship sink).

[6] Verweij later admitted that, while he stood by his version of the story, he was fully responsible for the bombing and regretted his involvement..[7] The plan completely backfired, as the general public sympathized with Radio Noordzee and the station gained popularity.

[4] Verweij turned 100 years old in 2009, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from news anchor Arend Langenberg for his influence on Dutch commercial radio.