Journalist, editor & storyteller
I’m Carmen Esselink, a freelance journalist, editor and content strategist based in Mindelo, Cape Verde. I write for Dutch and international media, covering travel, culture, society and the people and stories behind them.
I hold a Master’s degree in Television and Cross Media Culture. Before going freelance in 2023, I spent eight years at Dutch public broadcaster BNNVARA, working across digital media and television. My experience includes online editorial work for programmes such as 3 op Reis, Kassa and Floortje naar het Einde van de Wereld, as well as television research and editorial work for Kassa, Spuiten en Slikken and First Dates. For the documentary series Missie Middendorp, produced by Stepping Stone Productions, I researched stories on climate and security in Iraq, Somaliland and Bangladesh, and coordinated interviews.
Today, my work has appeared in publications including Condé Nast Traveller UK, Business Insider, Minority Africa, Wander With Wonder, Barts Boekje and DUIC. Alongside journalism, I develop editorial content and communication strategies for organisations such as Centraal Museum Utrecht, translating complex subjects into accessible, engaging stories.
I’ve always been drawn to what lies beyond the familiar.
Not necessarily the extraordinary or the faraway, but the lives, choices and realities that challenge what we think we know. Whether I’m exploring societal challenges or finding meaning in the details of everyday life, I believe the best stories begin with listening, asking questions and looking beyond the obvious.
Living and working across different places has taught me that the most interesting stories rarely fit into neat narratives. They’re often found in the contradictions, the unexpected details and the space between different perspectives. That’s where my curiosity tends to lead me.
I believe storytelling has the power to bring us closer to worlds we might otherwise never encounter. Not by simplifying them, but by making room for their complexity, their humanity and sometimes their uncomfortable truths.
Kind words from clients & colleagues
We are very pleased with the pleasant, efficient communication with Carmen. Even though she is the only one on the team working remotely, her commitment is clearly noticeable.
She communicates clearly, responds quickly and actively contributes ideas, ensuring the collaboration runs smoothly. We appreciate her professionalism and would certainly recommend her.
Carmen and I worked together at BNNVARA for about eight years. When Carmen told me she was leaving BNNVARA, I was incredibly proud of her.
After years of deliberation, she had made the decision: she was ready to leave all security behind and follow her own path as a traveling freelancer. At the same time, it also felt like a loss, because I would be losing an incredibly driven, wonderful colleague.
Have a story in mind? Get in touch
Get in touch about an article, an editorial assignment or research for a documentary or television programme.
carmenesselink@outlook.com