Marjolein Koster is a Dutch journalist and storyteller with a strong focus on the Balkans.

Since 2014, she has reported from the region on post-war reconstruction, political developments and issues of identity and belonging. Through human-centred narratives rooted in thorough field research and a deep understanding of the region’s history and social fabric, her work explores the lingering effects of conflict.

As well as long-form reporting, she covers daily news and broader social issues such as human rights, minority rights, and environmental challenges. She works across multiple media, writing for newspapers and magazines, producing and presenting podcasts, contributing to radio programmes and conducting research for television and documentaries. Her reporting combines analytical depth with narrative sensitivity, connecting complex international issues to the human stories behind them. She most frequently reports for Nederlands Dagblad, RTL News, NRC, Groene Amsterdammer, Balkan Insight, and VPRO's Bureau Buitenland.

Although the Balkans remain at the heart of her work, she occasionally reports from other parts of the world, focusing on themes such as resilience, justice and post-conflict recovery.
 

 

Basic information

Name
Marjolein Koster
Title
Journalist
Expertise
Balkans, human rights, environment, politics
Country
Netherlands
City
Utrecht

Supported projects

Bosnia’s Wood Barons

  • Corruption
  • Environment

SARAJEVO - Around half of Bosnia-Herzegovina is covered by forests and wood is one of the Balkan country’s most valuable natural resources. But instead of developing the nation, some politicians and private companies enrich themselves with the profits of the ‘green gold’. Forests are cut down for private interests and governments and companies in Western-Europe close their eyes to gain cheap wood. 

illegal deforestation balkans