Verkerk won the World Judo Championships Women's −78 kg in 2009, in her hometown of Rotterdam.[3] In 2013, she won silver at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then in 2015, she won the bronze medal.[4]
She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the -78 kg event.[5] She lost to Gemma Gibbons in the quarter-finals and then to Mayra Aguiar in her bronze medal match.[6]
After winning silver, bronze and again silver at the European Championships in 2010, 2013 and 2014, respectively, Verkerk finally won European gold in 2015. As the European Championships were held during the 2015 European Games, this also meant she won the inaugural gold medal in the women's −78 kg division at these championships.
