Ensink grew up in Laar, Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany, where his German parents ran a farm.

After he won the local elections with this party in 1994, he became the deputy mayor (Wethouder) in charge of finances, spatial planning, housing, environment, public relations and communications and small and medium enterprises.

In 1998, he was the director ad interim of the regional environmental non-governmental organisation Milieufederatie Groningen[6] for half a year.

[9] Additionally, he was a member of the governance committee of the Dutch association of municipalities VNG (Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten).

[10] In May 2006, Ensink was appointed by the board of the international non-governmental organization European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) to Secretary General and Velo-city Series Director.