Wies Verbeek

About Wies Verbeek

After studying Communication in Groningen, Wies Verbeek started as a production assistant at IDTV (television producer), where she progressed to producer of TV commercials at advertising agencies. At the age of 38, she made a career switch to the magazine world, where she worked for many years as a journalist and editor-in-chief at various titles, including Margriet, Libelle, and Nouveau.

In 2018, she launched the website BLOW.nl, which stands for ‘A Little Fun Growing Older’—her favorite topic. As a journalist, she writes about everything related to aging fit, happy, and healthy, always based on scientific insights. What started as a website with accompanying social media channels and a newsletter has grown into a versatile platform with multiple pillars, including books, podcasts, media productions, presentations, workshops, and commercial collaborations. She does all of this with equal joy and derives extra satisfaction from being able to help and inspire people.

From her book A Little Fun Growing Older, 101 Surprising and Proven Tips, over 38,000 copies have been sold. In 2025, the Handbook for Sixty-Somethings was published, which answers the most frequently asked questions from sixty-somethings, ranging from work and money to health and relationships. Of this, 6,500 copies have already been sold.

Presentations / Workshops

In her presentations and workshops, she shares surprising and practical insights, such as the effect of prebiotic substances in endive on gut flora, the possible link between a hearing aid and a lower risk of dementia, and the importance of getting up regularly throughout the day. Each presentation is packed with tips, supplemented with current scientific knowledge about aging and (anti)aging research.

She is available as a speaker for companies, municipalities, networking clubs, and event organizations. Her book A Little Fun Growing Older often serves as the basis for her presentations and workshops, possibly supplemented with insights from the Handbook for Sixty-Somethings. Each lecture, workshop, or presentation is tailored to the audience. She positions herself not as an all-knowing scientist, but as a journalist who, like her audience, wants to remain fit, healthy, and happy. This personal perspective brings lightness and recognition.

The best part of giving presentations is that I can surprise people with healthy tips they don’t yet know. Tips that are easy to incorporate into daily life.