His journal "Krakatau", which was edited in 1884 and 1885 by order of the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, is his most known work. It deals with the eruption of the volcanic island Krakatoa in 1883 and brought volcanology into scientific prominence. Just two years before, Verbeek had done research in the area. Living in Buitenzorg on Java, he was a direct witness to the eruption. In the BBC docudrama "", he is the protagonist and was portrayed by Kevin McMonagle.