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Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Soul Return submits its own information.

Soul Return: An In-Depth Review for Private Ayahuasca Ceremonies in Alkmaar, Netherlands

Soul Return is a self-described foundation in Alkmaar, Netherlands, founded by a facilitator named Bas, that sells private one-to-one daytime ayahuasca ceremonies with an optional overnight stay for €475, with facilitators Iria and Joop, per its Retreat Guru program page. It publishes screening for heart conditions, psychosis, pregnancy and serotonergic medications, and a follow-up call. Against that, ayahuasca is illegal in the Netherlands, the team gives first names only and no registered foundation was found, it has no reviews, no medical staff or emergency plan is published, and ceremonies and overnight stays take place in a business unit on an industrial estate.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: A two-floor unit on the Beverkoog business estate in north Alkmaar, Netherlands, about 45 minutes by train from Schiphol; the ceremony room becomes the sleeping space.
• Approach: A private daytime ceremony with live music, breathwork and medicine songs, followed by a vegetarian meal, an optional night on mats and a morning integration circle; small groups of up to six are also mentioned.
• Suitable For: People wanting a private ceremony who understand the legal risk in the Netherlands. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: €475 for the private ceremony, although the same page says “on request”; medical consultations, extended coaching and airport pickup cost extra. The deposit is refundable until a day before and full payment until 15 days before.
• Overall Assessment: Private sessions with published contraindications and follow-up, offset by illegal medicine with no disclosure, an unverifiable operator, no track record and an unusual venue. Directory evaluation: C.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Soul Return has no reviews on Retreat Guru, and none were found on BookRetreats, Trustpilot, Google, Tripadvisor or AyaAdvisors. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English and Dutch-language news for reports involving Soul Return, its website and Alkmaar venue, and its facilitators Bas, Iria and Joop.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: None found.
• Legal action: None found.

The facilitators give first names only, so this absence offers limited assurance.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.

🔍 Critical Notes

Who runs it. Bas describes himself as the founder of Soul Return, “a foundation dedicated to creating safe and sacred spaces for healing”, with a background in plant medicine ceremonies, men’s circles and music, per its booking page. Iria shares a personal story and Joop has no biography; the listing claims “12+ years in NL” (all unverified). No registered foundation, Chamber of Commerce number or lineage was found.

Screening and medical support. An intake covers medical history and medications and screens out certain heart conditions, a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, pregnancy and SSRIs, SNRIs and MAOIs. No medical staff or emergency protocol is published, and medical clearances are excluded from the price. Alkmaar has a general hospital nearby (our estimate).

Venue. A commercial property listing describes the unit as business premises in a multi-unit building; whether overnight stays there meet local zoning and fire-safety rules is unknown.

Listings. The page says both 1 to 2 guides and three facilitators, lists the price as €475 and “on request”, still refers to a November 2025 full moon event, and shows spa and pool amenity tags.

Status. Bookable by appointment; the latest dated event was in November 2025.

Legal context. DMT is on List I of the Dutch Opium Act, and Dutch courts have convicted organizers of paid ayahuasca retreats, including in Eersel in 2025, per Rechtspraak, and in Haarlem in 2022, per Rechtspraak.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

The published exclusions are a good sign, but ask how they are checked and what happens in an emergency. ICEERS notes that ayahuasca’s MAOI component makes it dangerous with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs and that it is contraindicated for people prone to psychosis. Never stop a psychiatric medication to qualify for a ceremony without your prescriber’s guidance.

🧪 Brew Substance

Ayahuasca served by the facilitators; its source is not published. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf such as chacruna, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: An urban business estate on the edge of Alkmaar.
• Rooms: Mats and blankets in the ceremony room; private rooms only if available.
• Style: Western-led ceremony with live music and breathwork.

Practical guidance: Take the train to Alkmaar, then bus 10 toward Beverkoog; pickup from Alkmaar Noord station can be arranged.

Should You Book?

Only with caution, and only if you accept the legal risk. Ask in writing for the facilitators’ full names and training, the foundation’s registration, the exact price including medicine, who on site is trained in first aid, the emergency plan, and whether the venue is permitted for overnight stays. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Soul Return presents itself as a foundation offering safe, sacred and personal ceremony space. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go: Disclose every medication and condition in writing and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: Use the follow-up call and arrange support from a qualified therapist at home. Our guide on how to research ayahuasca incidents can help you check any center.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

The ceremony is listed on Retreat Guru. Best Retreats does not take bookings; learn more about our mission.

Last reviewed November 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified medical professional.