Ferry Zandvliet

About Ferry Zandvliet

Ferry Zandvliet is an expert in the field of resilience and personal leadership. In 2015, during the attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, he stared death in the face. What could have been a definitive fall into victimhood became the moment when everything changed. The event shook him awake and pointed him towards an accelerated route to mental freedom. Essential for a resilient, balanced life.

In the years that followed, Ferry decided to share his insights. Where he once was terrified of speaking on stage, he discovered that his strength lies precisely there. Within a year, he quit his job as a physiotherapist and completely redirected his life. He has been speaking full-time around the world for eight years now. His openness, humor, and down-to-earth Rotterdam perspective deeply resonate with people.

Ferry’s keynote ‘About Living’ is an inspiring and energetic story about attitude, gratitude, and resilience. He shows that changes and setbacks are actually gateways to new opportunities and growth. During his lecture, he briefly takes the audience back to Paris, but the emphasis is mainly on what came afterward: the mental struggle, coping with life when everything suddenly changes. He demonstrates how a strong attitude, living according to your values, building a social network, and investing in both mental and physical fitness form the foundation for a resilient life.

His background in healthcare and hospitality gives him an exceptional talent for sensing people. Whether it’s students, employees, managers, or children: Ferry effortlessly reads his audience and knows exactly what is needed to create connection and impact.

Ferry is primarily booked by companies undergoing changes or those looking to start or end the day inspiringly. He offers practical tools to create that mental freedom — something the audience is challenged to immediately engage with after his presentation.

Looking at life with gratitude is a mature attitude — and perhaps the simplest meditation you can do.

As a highlight of his career as a speaker, Ferry considers speaking for the United Nations, Lowlands, and giving a keynote in a sold-out TheaterHangaar of Soldier of Orange. His first book ‘Souvenirs: Better After Bataclan’ became a bestseller and was praised by journalist Peter R. de Vries, who called his story “masterful.” Because his story resonates internationally and his English is excellent, Ferry is frequently booked by international organizations or companies where English is the primary language.

Ferry speaks live and online. His lectures last 30–90 minutes and are always tailored to the audience. Whenever possible, he enjoys meeting clients in person — over a cup of coffee.