Istudied Dutch Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1977–1981), followed by International and European Law and International Relations at the University of Amsterdam (1981–1983). Later, I deepened my focus on European and Competition Law at the University of Louvain (2000–2001).
My professional career began at the European Commission in 1984, working on relations with the European Parliament, before I served as a parliamentary assistant to Dutch Members of the European Parliament (1984–1987). Simultaneously, I started freelance writing and made interviews with then President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, and Secretary-General of NATO, Lord Carrington.
In 1987, I transitioned into professional journalism at NRC Handelsblad. Starting on the foreign desk covering Africa, among others the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, I went on to serve as a foreign correspondent in Poland and Czechoslovakia during the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, before joining the paper’s political desk in The Hague in 1991. Moving to Brussels in 1995, I joined De Standaard as a political editor, delving deep into the complexities of Belgian politics and society.
Istudied Dutch Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1977–1981), followed by International and European Law and International Relations at the University of Amsterdam (1981–1983). Later, I deepened my focus on European and Competition Law at the University of Louvain (2000–2001).
My professional career began at the European Commission in 1984, working on relations with the European Parliament, before I served as a parliamentary assistant to Dutch Members of the European Parliament (1984–1987). Simultaneously, I started freelance writing and made interviews with then President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, and Secretary-General of NATO, Lord Carrington.
In 1987, I transitioned into professional journalism at NRC Handelsblad. Starting on the foreign desk covering Africa, among others the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, I went on to serve as a foreign correspondent in Poland and Czechoslovakia during the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, before joining the paper’s political desk in The Hague in 1991. Moving to Brussels in 1995, I joined De Standaard as a political editor, delving deep into the complexities of Belgian politics and society.
In 1999, Dutch EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein invited me to join his cabinet to handle media affairs, speechwriting, and steering legislative proposals through the European Parliament. Following this, I joined the cabinet of Estonian Commissioner Siim Kallas, gaining firsthand insight into the Baltic perspective on European integration.
I resigned from the Commission in 2007 to move to New York as an independent author and columnist, covering the landmark 2008 U.S. presidential election of Barack Obama.
In 2009, I returned to Europe to run in the European elections at the invitation of a Flemish party. In doing so, I became the first Dutch citizen elected to the European Parliament on behalf of Belgium. During this mandate, I co-founded the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group and became one of its Vice-Presidents. I served on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and participated in the Delegation for relations with the United States.
I returned to New York in 2014 to continue reporting on American politics, including the 2016 election of Donald Trump.
In 1999, Dutch EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein invited me to join his cabinet to handle media affairs, speechwriting, and steering legislative proposals through the European Parliament. Following this, I joined the cabinet of Estonian Commissioner Siim Kallas, gaining firsthand insight into the Baltic perspective on European integration.
I resigned from the Commission in 2007 to move to New York as an independent author and columnist, covering the landmark 2008 U.S. presidential election of Barack Obama.
In 2009, I returned to Europe to run in the European elections at the invitation of a Flemish party. In doing so, I became the first Dutch citizen elected to the European Parliament on behalf of Belgium. During this mandate, I co-founded the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group and became one of its Vice-Presidents. I served on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and participated in the Delegation for relations with the United States.
I returned to New York in 2014 to continue reporting on American politics, including the 2016 election of Donald Trump.
In 2019, I was re-elected to the European Parliament—this time representing the Netherlands—navigating European policy through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
After participating in the Dutch national parliamentary elections in 2021, I formally concluded my domestic political career in 2023. It was an honour to serve in the parliament of my country.
Language is my primary tool for bridging political and cultural divides. I started learning foreign languages at secondary school; and never stopped. Meanwhile, I master:
Active: Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Afrikaans, Swedish, Russian.
Passive: Chinese (Mandarin), Classical Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia.
In 2019, I was re-elected to the European Parliament—this time representing the Netherlands—navigating European policy through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
After participating in the Dutch national parliamentary elections in 2021, I formally concluded my domestic political career in 2023. It was an honour to serve in the parliament of my country.
Language is my primary tool for bridging political and cultural divides. I started learning foreign languages at secondary school; and never stopped. Meanwhile, I master:
Active: Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Afrikaans, Swedish, Russian.
Passive: Chinese (Mandarin), Classical Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia.
“Derk Jan Eppink – Author and European & Transatlantic Affairs Expert.”
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