Inspiring speaker
Wiebe Wakker
I travelled from the Netherlands to Australia without any money, relying on the help of strangers. An inspiring story about courage, trust and following a crazy idea.
4,9 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5 stars
Inspiring speaker
My name is Wiebe Wakker. In 2019, I completed a record-breaking world trip: I drove solo and without money from the Netherlands to Australia, in an electric car with only 200 km of range.
My presentation on this bizarre adventure is full of hardships, twists and humour. In which I particularly emphasise the value of trust & human connection and collaboration. As an inspiring speaker, I have already managed to captivate and inspire countless people with my story. Will you be next?
- No standard story
- Real adventure, real lessons
- I provide energy
- Positive worldview
- I bring hope & optimism
- Challenges to different way of life
What an incredibly powerful story. Our people at Coca-Cola were very excited and inspired by Wiebe’s story. Great insights and so down to Earth, everyone should hear this once!
Brenda van der Sanden
Public Affairs, Sustainability &
Communications Assistant
Speaker with an inspiring story
In 2016, I challenged myself to drive to the other side of the world in an electric car with no money. Everyone around me said it couldn’t be done.
To reach Sydney, I asked strangers to ‘Plug Me In’. Through my website, people could select their location and offer me a meal, place to sleep or power for the car. That’s how I determined my route, which as a result was anything but straightforward. It caused many – literal – twists and turns in my story.
Yes, I eventually reached Sydney. But it was not without a struggle. Thanks to the help of friendly locals or online followers, I managed to keep moving forward. So my story is also an example that by trusting in people and making connections you can achieve extreme goals and that the world is not at all such a bad place as we see it on TV.
After 1,119 days, 33 countries and 95,000 kilometres, my journey was over. Now that I’m back, I love nothing more than telling about it to inspire others.
What I want to convey? That anything is possible if you really want it. I overcame my challenges and want to inspire others to do the same. I do so with the power of my story, in which, by the way, there is also plenty to laugh about.
Seen on
What people take away from my presentations
My adventures are more than just stories. They open the door to larger themes that are important to organisations. Each presentation is tailor-made and developed together with the client to deliver a story that touches, surprises and makes people think.
Want to know more? Schedule a call with me.
Inspiration & Motivation
“What happens when people dare to dream again, and take action?”
I started my journey with an ambitious goal: to travel from the Netherlands to Australia, without any money. I had no idea how I would achieve this, but I just started.
Along the way, I learned that help often comes once you get moving, and that asking questions is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.
That’s exactly what I want to inspire in people: curiosity, courage and the confidence that you don’t have to know everything to get started.
Trust & Human Connection
“My adventures showed me what becomes possible when you discover that people can be trusted.”
I may travel alone, but along the way I have learned one thing: connection is not a choice, it is a lifeline. From complete strangers who gave me power to unknown people who offered me shelter, my adventures would never have been possible without those moments of human contact.
I show how real connection arises, often in unexpected places, and how that energy changes everything, including within organisations.
Collaboration
“I always travel solo, but I am never alone.”
My talk on collaboration shows what happens when collaboration is not optional, but essential to moving forward. When you depend on others for food, shelter, energy and solutions, the real conditions for collaboration become apparent.
In my keynote, I take the audience through specific situations in which collaboration succeeded, and moments when it almost failed. Always linked to five clear principles.
These companies already took the ride
With me as their inspiring speaker
Hear what others say about me as a inspiring speaker
Esther Jansen Duighuizen
Internal Communications Manager
Esther Jansen Duighuizen
Internal Communications Manager
Mark Wijsman
Presenter & Moderator
What other people say about my presentations
Rosie Cotter
Sustainability Manager
“Wiebe’s authentic, easy going style of presentation was well received by our staff and his talk was both entertaining and informative.”
Noeska de Nobel
Programme Secretary
Development Programmes
“Innovation, sustainability, inspiration, adventure, humour, life lessons and I could go on.
I enjoyed Wiebe’s presentation at Delfland Waterboard about his trip to Australia and all the life lessons he learned from it.
Extremely inspiring to hear Wiebe talk about the ups and downs and even though I will never make such a trip myself, the ‘journey’ and development of the person Wiebe is very recognisable.
Wiebe completely takes you into his car and the joy of crossing the finish line was audible even for me because I was so taken with him.”
Edwin Levels
Strategic Expert
“Wiebe’s inspiring story shows that reaching your goal does not only depend on a solid plan, a healthy dose of guts and a lot of perseverance.
Flexibility in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and plenty of humour are just as important – and this is reflected in Wiebe’s inspiring and entertaining presentation.
The insights Wiebe gained on his journey contain valuable lessons many organisations can benefit from in realising their goals. Highly recommended!”
Rogier Scheltema
Traffic Manager
“Wiebe took us on his extraordinary journey from the Netherlands to Australia with an electric car and no money. His story is a true inspiration and shows how guts, collaboration and an open mindset can take you further than you ever imagined. With his Plug Me In project, he crossed countless countries and proved that seemingly impossible challenges are achievable.
His adventure broke through fixed thinking patterns and motivated us to think big and just do it. Wiebe’s journey is not only an impressive adventure, but above all a powerful example of how you can achieve incredible goals by trusting others and working together.
An inspiring story that will stay with us for a long time!”
Joyce Versteeg
Association Coordinator
“Wiebe is a pleasant personality who in a relaxed manner takes the congress participants on his inspiring adventure. This was certainly talked about for the rest of the day.
It was nice to see how Wiebe subtly connected to the theme of the congress during the presentation.
In short, Wiebe is highly recommended as an inspiring speaker for a congress or meeting.”
Ready to go on an adventure?
Platform 9¾? Nope, just an inspiring speaker with real stories.
Your ticket to an adventure
Date: May 15, 2026
Fellow traveller info
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Reviews from clients & audience
Visitors to Ecomobiel were very enthusiastic about Wiebe’s presentation. Wiebe’s journey is unique and so is his story. Wiebe inspires, makes people think and provides a comic note. After you have heard his story, you ...
Wendy van de Geijn
CEO
54 Events
Review via
Recently, Wiebe Wakker gave an inspiring presentation for the Young Alfen organisation in Almere about his journey to the other side of the world in an electric car. His talk took us through his road ...
Ruben Tempel
Senior Sales Advisor
Alfen
Review via
Wiebe recently told his amazing story at the municipality of Amsterdam at the Department of Space and Sustainability. It is a boy’s book full of adventure and challenges that seem insuperable. You could captivate the ...
Tom Groot
Senior Advisor Zero Emission Mobility
City of Amsterdam
Review via
What an inspiring story about your journey, story, perseverance, culture and passion. good luck on your next journey Wiebe!
Arjen Blankhart Styles
Review via
Your life journey with your electric car from the Netherlands to Australia was so inspiring for us! Thank you!
Raymond van der Loos
Global Executive and Chairman
Atradius
Review via
A fascinating story about how Wiebe drove from the Netherlands to Australia in an electric car without spending a penny. He ended up covering 95,000 km through 33 countries. His adventures and life lessons made ...
Lonneke van der Horst
Marketing & Communications Director
Ayvens
Review via
Inspiring presentation from Wiebe on fantastic adventures around the world.
Bernadette Blom
Review via
What an incredibly powerful story. Our people at Coca-Cola were very excited and inspired by Wiebe’s story. Great insights and so down to Earth, everyone should hear this once!
Brenda van der Sanden
Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Assistant
The Coca-Cola Company
Review via
Very inspiring to hear him speak about his life journey. His adventure is impressive and he also makes you think. It gave me insights into life’s opportunities and challenges, cultural understanding and what you can ...
Darya Stanchyk
Review via
Innovation, sustainability, inspiration, adventure, humour, life lessons and I could go on. I enjoyed Wiebe’s presentation at Hoogheemraadschap Delfland about his trip to Australia and all the life lessons he learned from it. Extremely inspiring ...
Noeska de Nobel
Program Manager
Delfland Waterboard
Review via
An inspiring story, honest, authentic and humorous which is much more than an adventure.
Dennis Lukkien
Review via
Recently I met Wiebe and invited him to tell his adventure for our company Diverz. The story seems to be about his journey to prove that you can get to the other side of the ...
Yvonne Zuidgeest
CEO
Diverz
Review via
Fantastic speaker with an inspiring story. With humour and quips, Wiebe talks about his sustainable journey to Sydney.
Dr Grondo
Review via
It was wonderful to host Wiebe as a speaker for one of our events. The insights and experiences he shared during the event was quite inspirational. It’s incredible how he found a way to source ...
Mashrook Ali
Co-founder
Eaton Business School
Review via
What an amazing, unimaginable, courageous and hopeful story. Confidence in humanity from an electric car. Can it get any better? Best of luck, and may you inspire new generations! Many thanks, Edith
Edith Kunnen
Review via
This summer, we invited Wiebe to FlevoMeer Library Dronten to talk about his Plug Me In project. And it caught on, the room was full! He took us along on his journey with enthusiastic stories ...
Inge Dix
Coordinator Knowledge Centre
FlevoMeer Library
Review via
During our recently organised GemaQ summit for entrepreneurs in the petrol sector, we had the honour of welcoming Wiebe Wakker as our keynote speaker. And what a story he had to tell. With his Plug ...
Mark Reiman
Retail Manager Foodservice
GemaQ
Review via
In May, Wiebe spoke at the campsite in Zeewolde. What a story! Moving, exciting, humorous and inspiring. Thank you, Wiebe.
Gertie Wilms
Review via
DB Breweries/HEINEKEN NZ was lucky to host Wiebe on the final leg of his world tour in New Zealand. Wiebe’s authentic, easy going style of presentation was well received by our staff and his talk ...
Rosie Cotter
Sustainability Manager
Heineken
Review via
A very special and fantastic story. What a lot Wiebe has been through. Setbacks, friendship and help! It's incredible and inspiring!!!
Hermine van Schaik
Review via
We really enjoyed Wiebe’s stories about his bizarre trip to Australia in an electric car. It was very inspiring to hear him talk about the more than 95,000 kilometres and 33 countries of the longest ...
Richard Hovinga
Senior Policy Advisor Sustainable Mobility
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Review via
As part of our summer school for Jaarbeurs employees, Wiebe came to tell his inspiring story about the Plug Me In project. The inspiring presentation with lots of humor stirred up a lot of interest ...
Nynke Moorman
Advisor People & Sustainability
Koninklijke Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Review via
Range anxiety? You’ll soon be cured of that after a presentation by Wiebe! If you can make it in Australia with the Blue Bandit, you should also be fine in our little country with electric ...
Gijs Stevers
Chief Procurement Officer
Libra Energy
Review via
Wiebe took us on his extraordinary journey from the Netherlands to Australia with an electric car and no money. His story is a true inspiration and shows how guts, collaboration and an open mindset can ...
Rogier Scheltema
Traffic Manager
LINDA. Magazine
Review via
Wiebe managed to captivate our Lions Club members immensely with his story of what electric mobility is capable of. In his own wonderfully humorous way, he took us on his journey and shared his experiences ...
Robert de Jonge
President
Lions Club Blaricum
Review via
I had the pleasure of meeting Wiebe Wakker at the WTM London, where he shared his inspiring journey from Amsterdam to Sydney in an electric car. His mission to promote sustainable travel truly resonated with ...
Malgorzata Szydlik
Review via
I recently had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Wiebe. I was already familiar with the broad outlines of his story, but I had no idea there was so much more to his journey! ...
Marco Teeuwen
Review via
Super inspiring story. Listened captivated from start to finish. Wonderful to travel the world in a bird's eye view with Wiebe.
Marieke van Nuenen - Buur
Review via
I have had the privilege of knowing Wiebe Wakker for many years as a friend of the Association of Electric Vehicle Drivers(VER). His unparalleled perseverance and dedication to sustainability are truly inspiring. With his “Plug ...
Marina van Helvoort
Review via
What an inspiring story and what an incredible adventure! I enjoyed the presentation, with Wiebe taking us on a journey. A journey around the world, where he meets unexpected help and kindness. Wiebe tells his ...
Marjolein Stromeier
Review via
What an inspiring story! At our first physical meeting after a long time, we asked Wiebe to take us on his journey. Wiebe was on stage as himself. Open and honest, with humour and lots ...
Rob Hoefnagel
CEO
Move Beyond
Review via
Basically, it’s all about pioneering and seeing opportunities. Sometimes, as chair of the day, you also get to see a fine Keynote speaker with an inspiring story. Still impressed!
Nathalie van Gent
Moderator
Review via
Great speaker and inspiring story. Good to take a moment to reflect on what it means to go out without expectations and without knowing what is coming. Thanks Wiebe.
Nicole van Riessen
Review via
Wiebe Wakker is an inspiring speaker who keeps you captivated. With his enthusiasm, humour and personal stories, he knows how to touch the audience. He shows how you can ‘literally’ travel the world in a ...
Noor Kailola
Review via
Wiebe’s inspiring story shows that reaching your goal does not only depend on a solid plan, a healthy dose of guts and a lot of perseverance. Flexibility in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and plenty of ...
Edwin Levels
Strategic Expert
Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa)
Review via
During Vaart in Diemen, we had Wiebe Wakker as a speaker. I found his adventure, a journey from Amsterdam to Sydney in an electric car, an interesting story and, as so often, I also took ...
Robert Schulze
President
Ondernemend Diemen
Review via
Wiebe is an admirable ‘sustainable adventurer’. First he realises a boyhood dream by driving the Blue Bandit to Sydney, then he travels by train to Dubai and just when you think he's back, I see ...
Otto Wijnen
Review via
As an innovation centre in the creative industry, we are always looking for inspiration: Wiebe certainly gave us that. With his story about his world trip in an electric car, he managed to enthuse the ...
Anne Raaijmakers
Project Manager
Perron038
Review via
Wonderful presentation on a incredible impressive journey around the world. Absolutely recommended where the kindness of total strangers around the world is very inspiring.
Peter Paul de Bie
Review via
Wiebe’s inspiring story about his Plug Me In journey gave our staff new insights into life’s opportunities and challenges, cross-cultural understanding, the beauty of human generosity, everyday innovation and much more. It was a great ...
Ellen Scheerders
Accomplished Talent Acquisition Leader
Prologis
Review via
On 24 October we organised a so-called pressure cooker session. With the business community, young people, government and education, to come up with smart solutions for the changes in education and the labour market in ...
Arianne Westerweel
Advisor
Province of Zeeland
Review via
Wiebe was our keynote speaker at our event for the members of Verhurend Nederland. That is an incredibly diverse group of people, from different companies and with very different backgrounds and interests. So who can give ...
Benjamin Neeteson
Co-owner
Rent A Battery
Review via
What a beautiful story and presentation! Wiebe told us how he travelled through 34 countries with an electric car and without financial means. His journey was not an easy one, one with many obstacles and ...
Marc Vermeer
Technical Manager
Rijkswaterstaat
Review via
On 10 May, Wiebe took us (the participants of the Dutch Caravan Club and the Association of Electric Vehicle Drivers) on his challenging world trip with an EV, and we hung on his every word. ...
Robbert Monteban
Review via
Wiebe's story is hugely inspiring. Funny, amazing, energising, admiring. If you have the chance to hire him for a presentation sometime, definitely do it!
Robert van Gent
Review via
A lot of respect for your tremendous perseverance to achieve this extraordinary feat! Extraordinary achievement!
Ruud Bekendam
Review via
Wiebe’s ability to convey his journey engagingly and authentically made a deep impression on all present, captivated the audience and left us inspired. His anecdotes and images brought his adventure to life and encouraged us ...
Aymen Ismail
Director Customer Services and Executive Board Member
Smart
Review via
At ‘Impact Event Sustainable Zeist’, Wiebe gave a fantastic presentation about his journey in an electric car from the Netherlands to Australia. During his lively talk, interspersed with anecdotes, self-mockery and humour, everyone was hanging ...
Hans Hoff
Organizer
Impact Event Duurzaam Zeist
Review via
