Work With Me
Turning miles into meaning
Through my work in the travel industry, including my time at Club Med and KLM, I’ve been fortunate to explore many destinations around the world. Every journey teaches me something new. Travel opens your mind, offers new perspectives, and enriches your life in unexpected ways. Through my stories, I hope to encourage others to experience that same feeling.
By combining my travel background with my enduring curiosity and love for travel, culture, art, gastronomy, and authentic local experiences, I create stories that spark curiosity, inspire discovery, and encourage a more immersive way of travelling.
I collaborate with hotels, tourism boards, PR agencies, publishers, and travel brands to tell authentic travel stories that go beyond the highlights and capture the atmosphere, character, and little details that make a destination unique.
This includes editorial travel features, destination stories, guest articles, and cultural pieces that go deeper, from local life and city culture to slow travel and unique stays.
My focus is always on the atmosphere and everyday rhythm of a place. I love bringing these elements to life in stories that take readers along on the journey, spark their imagination, and make them excited to experience a destination for themselves.
My work has been featured on platforms such as OnePlanetJourney, Les Couleurs du Monde, Triptalk.nl, and Reisleven.nl, reaching both Dutch travellers and an international audience.
Let’s create stories that spark curiosity, connection and a more meaningful way of travelling.
Let's talk numbers
Explore my media kit and the platforms I write for, including their audience and reach. These resources provide a clear overview of my work, publications and the Dutch and international audiences we can reach together
Author Profiles & Publications
✍️ Reisleven.nl
Contributing Travel Writer | Sharing personal journeys with a strong focus on authentic experiences, slow travel, food culture, and colorful storytelling.
✍️ Triptalk.nl
Contributing Travel Writer | Published multiple times with inspiring travel features that bring destinations to life through engaging and accessible storytelling.
✍️ OnePlanetJourney.com
One Planet Journey Ambassador | Travel Writer | Creating in-depth travel stories focused on mindful exploration, cultural connection, sustainability, and local perspectives.
Contributing Travel Writer | I specialize in uncovering hidden places, cultural soul, and unique landscapes, from the Netherlands to destinations across Europe and beyond. Through my work for Les Couleurs du Monde magazine, I share meaningful stories that capture the essence of slow travel, authentic experiences, and remarkable places.
Current Projects, Press Trips & Partnerships
Analogica Group, Portugal | PR & Communications Agency
Started in March 2026 - ongoing partnership
Partnering with Analogica Group, a communications agency representing some of Portugal’s most prestigious hotel collections, I traveled from North to South Portugal to document heritage properties, gastronomy, culture, and hidden destinations.
The collaboration resulted in a multi-article editorial series published across multiple platforms, featuring luxury hospitality, regional storytelling, and cultural experiences across Portugal, with many more properties and destinations still to be explored as part of the ongoing partnership.
Selected features for Analogica Group
Explore editorial features on these hotels:
👉 Published on Reisleven.nl, TripTalk.nl & One Planet Journey.com
Koptekst 3What Partners Say
What Partners Say:
"I really like the way it is written, I genuinely transports us to the place. A big thank you from Portugal."
Salvador Holstein
Sales & Marketing | Hotel Casa Palmela
"Thank you so much for including Hotel Casa Palmela in your beautiful selection. It was a pleasure to be part of your journey through Portugal. We truly appreciate your thoughtful storytelling and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable stay "
Once Upon a Time
"Thank you so much for including Pacheca Group and Hotel Quinta da Pacheca in this beautiful selection. Portugal truly has so many special places to discover, and we are very happy to see the Douro and our wine tourism experience highlighted among such inspiring stays. Thank you for sharing our story with your readers."
Hotel Quinta da Pacheca
Pacheca Group
"Great to have you onboard. You set a great example in your travels of how to see wonderful places in a deep way."
Richard Lindberg
"We are so happy to have you again in our magazine, Ilse"
Cindy D'houst | Chief editor
Les Couleurs du Monde Magazine
"Hi Ilse! Thank you, I have read the article and it's reallly great. I love how it reads, like a story from a book."
Joana Sousa | Communication Account
Analogica Group
Wow, great publicity! Really well written too.
Hans van der Klis
Writer | Editor
This is amazing, and thank you Ilse for the incredible write up and for coming to stay with us!
Stephanie | Owner
Basecamp 37 Utah
BrandChoice, Portugal | Hotel Communications Agency
September 2026
I am collaborating with BrandChoice, a Portuguese PR agency specialising in hotel communications. They represent a curated portfolio of hotels across Portugal, from historic estates to contemporary luxury retreats.
Through this partnership, I am developing a series of editorial features and visual storytelling projects focused on distinctive stays, gastronomy, wine regions, and immersive travel experiences across Portugal.
The first collaboration is scheduled for 5–11 September 2026.
Editorial coverage and feature articles across multiple platforms will follow after the trip.
Visit Portugal
September–October 2026
Porto & North Portugal
Invited by Visit Portugal, I will join an exclusive press trip through Porto & North Portugal from September 28 to October 2, 2026.
Focused on sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and outdoor adventure, the journey includes Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Guimarães — European Green Capital 2026 — and the Arouca UNESCO Geopark.
This journey highlights Portugal’s diverse landscapes and authentic regional experiences, with a clear focus on slow travel, outdoor activities, and meaningful storytelling.
Editorial coverage and feature articles across multiple platforms will follow after the trip.
TM Marketing UK | France
Dordogne & Limousin, France
October 2026
An upcoming luxury road trip with through Southwest France in collaboration with TM Marketing UK, featuring a curated collection of historic châteaux, refined gastronomy and authentic regional storytelling across the Dordogne and Limousin regions.
Editorial coverage and feature articles across multiple platforms will follow after the trip.
Media & Press Events
August 2026
I participate in media events to connect with travel brands, discover industry developments, and build meaningful relationships within the travel community.
Upcoming: Holland America Line Media Event aboard the Zuiderdam in Rotterdam (August 2026)
Invited by Lieb Management, the event includes a ship visit, insights into the latest developments within the cruise line, and the opportunity to connect with the team and fellow travel professionals.
Featured Editorial | Les Couleurs du Monde
Ameland: Discover the Hidden Island Paradise of the Netherlands
In this comprehensive feature for Les Couleurs du Monde, I explore the serene beauty of the Dutch Wadden Islands. From the rhythmic tides of the UNESCO World Heritage site to the local craftsmanship of Ameland’s mustard mills, this article captures the 'slow travel' essence of the island. It’s a perfect example of how I combine practical travel tips with evocative storytelling to inspire a conscious, global audience.
Read my featured article on Les Couleurs du Monde magazine.
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Featured Editorial | Les Couleurs du Monde
Amsterdam: Discover the Hidden Oases of the Canal Belt
In this comprehensive feature for Les Couleurs du Monde, I explore the serene silence hidden behind the grand façades of Amsterdam’s busiest canals. From the perfectly manicured hedges of historic museum gardens to the private, lush oases of local residents, this article captures the 'slow travel' heart of the city. It is a perfect example of how I combine practical discovery with evocative storytelling to reveal a world that remains invisible to most visitors.
Read my featured article on Les Couleurs du Monde magazine.
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Featured Editorial | Les Couleurs du Monde
Setúbal: Beyond Portugal's Familiar Coast
For Les Couleurs du Monde, I take readers beyond Portugal's well-known destinations to discover Setúbal, a place where fishing traditions, fresh seafood, unspoiled beaches and the Arrábida Natural Park create an unforgettable travel experience.
By combining immersive storytelling with practical travel inspiration, this feature encourages readers to slow down and experience one of Portugal's most authentic coastal regions.
Editorial | Italië Quizboek
When a Book Becomes the Beginning of a Journey
Travel books can inspire long before a trip begins. For Reisleven, I reviewed Italië Quizboek by Hans van der Klis, transforming a traditional book review into an engaging travel feature.
Rather than writing a conventional book review, I highlighted how its stories, cultural insights and surprising facts encourage readers to explore Italy with fresh curiosity. The result is an editorial that combines storytelling, destination inspiration and SEO-driven content while showcasing the value of travel publishing.
This feature reflects the type of editorial work I create for publishers, tourism brands and travel-related businesses looking for authentic, inspiring content.
Read my featured review on Reisleven.
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Let’s create new stories together. Whether you have a question about one of my journeys, want to share a spot you love, or are interested in a guest blog or professional collaboration: I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a message and let’s connect!
