Ferry Zandvliet

Ferry Zandvliet
Speaker and author on resilience and the power of genuine human connection. Self-awareness is key!

On November 13, 2015, Ferry Zandvliet’s life changed forever. He survived the terrorist attack at the Bataclan concert venue in Paris. What followed was a years-long journey towards recovery, mental peace, and regaining control over his own life.
A journey that ultimately not only helped him process his trauma but also made him a happier person than he had ever dared to dream of becoming.

In 2018, Ferry decided to leave his job as a physiotherapist and dedicate himself entirely to public speaking. By now, he has delivered more than 700 talks in 15 countries, including presentations for the United Nations, Interpol, and major international organisations.

He has also written two books: Souvenirs – Better After Bataclan and Souvenirs II – Overcoming Life.

In his talks, Ferry takes his audience back to that fateful evening in Paris. But his story is primarily about what happened afterwards. About resilience, mental fitness, personal leadership, gratitude, and the power of genuine human connection.
Because how do you deal with setbacks and change? How do you find mental peace in a world that constantly demands your attention? And how much influence do you actually have over the way you approach life?
With humour, self-deprecation, openness, and a healthy dose of straightforward Rotterdam mentality, Ferry knows how to move his audience, make them think, and above all, make them laugh.

His most important message?
You cannot always control what happens to you. But you can control how you deal with it. Self-awareness is key!