Derkzen specializes in international politics and culture, which she discusses as host of the daily foreign affairs program VPRO’s Bureau Buitenland on NPO Radio 1. Furthermore, she regularly moderates public discussions and live interviews at festivals, as well as at expert meetings. Derkzen has previously worked as reporter for e.g. Vrij Nederland, De Correspondent and as guest-editor for the German newspaper Die Zeit. She also worked at the political department of the Dutch Embassy in Berlin.

Derkzen graduated from the University of Leiden, with a degree in History of Political Debate and the master Journalism and New Media.