Background
Van Essen was born in Burscheid and attended a gymnasium in Siegen.
politician member of the German Bundestag
Van Essen was born in Burscheid and attended a gymnasium in Siegen.
He studied law at the University of Cologne from 1968 to 1973.
After he finished university he became from 1976 to 1985 a prosecutor in Münster, Hagen and Dortmund. Van Essen is openly gay. 2007: Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold.
Since 1980 van Essen is a member of the Free Democratic Party and since 1990 van Essen has been a member of the Bundestag.