Awayk offers best-in-class, fully tailored psychedelic retreats. Everything we do is focused on ensuring you get the most out of this magical experience.

Our
story

Awayk has been founded by Maarten Lindenbergh and Pieter Schlooz. The two of us go way back. We grew up together. At high-school we formed a group of boys who, 25 years later, have become friends for life. 

Growing up in the Netherlands, we tried psychedelics a few times when we were young and always had a great time. Years later, in 2017, the boys-turned-grownups met in the woods for another psychedelic experience. But this time, it was prepared well. Pieter ensured we all came in with a clear intention and had found an absolutely stunning location. As a group, we discussed our mindsets going into the experience and one of us would be sitting in soberly. We ingested the pre-defined dose and the trip was magical. However, we felt something was different this time as we all came out of it with new, meaningful insights.

Over the next months, we noticed how our lives started changing gradually. Themes some of us were dealing with for a lifetime suddenly were put into a new light, a new perspective. What was mostly theoretical and extrinsically motivated before, just felt different now. Two of the boys quit smoking after 25 years. Another one changed his career to successfully focus on something else he had wanted to do for so long but never dared to. Somehow, everyone seemed to have found a strengthened and renewed consciousness and appreciation of life itself.

It made us very curious about the potential of psychedelics. We started reading every book and article we could lay our hands on. That’s when we discovered the long-standing research that proved our assumption; psychedelics have a huge, unprecedented ability to change lives for the better. We learned about the prejudices around psychedelics, which are now slowly being lifted. And we learned that with the right level of preparation, guidance and aftercare, the experience can have so much more impact. 

The aha
moment

We decided to build the best and most meaningful psychedelic journey out there.

We have seen a few out there with most of them offering group sessions or focusing heavily on the experience itself, neglecting proper preparation or aftercare. This seemed like untapped potential, a missed opportunity, especially for such a meaningful experience that can change lives for the better.

We founded Awayk, giving up on our successful careers to start a new adventure of providing best-in-class, customised psychedelic experiences.

Meet the Team

  • Co-Founder and Facilitator

    Life is meant to be experienced fully. Many high-performers find it difficult to reach a state of fulfilment and happiness they are content with. I am passionate about guiding them on their journey of raising self-awareness and getting the most out of their life.

    Before we founded Awayk, I climbed the career ladder across different industries like aviation, consultancy and e-commerce. Hence, I sympathise with those who give it their best every day. I have led teams large and small and worked for both big corporations and hyper growth scale-ups and I understand what it means to lead such companies. It taught me the importance of balancing high ambitions and high impact with high self-care and mindfulness.

    If I reflect on what has shaped me as a person it would be the journey of losing my dad at a young age. It unlocked an incredibly strong intrinsic motivation to enjoy life to the fullest. I soon realised that happiness must be found internally, and I have never lost that focus. For the last 20+ years I practised mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, the power of the mind, and coaching. An incredible psychedelic experience with friends in the forest showed me the potential of this substance and drove me to share this with the world safely and privately, in a way that it has the most impact, life long effects. I have followed multiple training and courses on guiding psychedelic journeys and integration of psychedelic experiences.

    I enjoy working with people from all around the world, from all walks of life. It has been eye-opening and mind-blowing to see how similar we all are in our essence. I am known for being a good listener, being non-judgemental and for being truly interested in how the other person ticks. My focus as a guide is to help you gain a better understanding of yourself, who you are meant to ,be and support you in getting the most out of life.

    In addition to my work, I am a proud father to two beautiful daughters, Benthe and Charlie, and happily married to my high school sweetheart, Claudia.

    Reach me at maarten@awayk.nl or +31615533574

  • Breathwork Specialist

    Hello, I'm Ingrid Scott, a certified breathwork coach based in Amsterdam. Trained under the mentorship of one of the Netherlands' leading breathwork teachers, I bring a no-nonsense approach focused on delivering tangible results. Having experienced the enriching impact of breathwork firsthand, I'm passionate about sharing its transformative potential with others. Over the years, I've witnessed remarkable changes in the lives of my clients through this powerful practice.

    During our sessions, I'll expertly guide you through conscious connected breathing using proven biological and theoretical methods. These techniques tap into the body's incredible self-healing capabilities, promoting optimal physical and emotional well-being.

    With Awayk I guide people to further investigate their intention or help them anchor their experienced insights during their integration.

    Visit me at www.ingridboekel.com

  • Co-founder and Facilitator

    Together with Maarten, I co-founded Awayk with the mission to assist individuals in savoring every moment of life. I firmly believe that this understanding already resides within each person, and I am deeply passionate about guiding you to uncover its meaning for yourself.

    Over the past four decades, I have embarked on a personal quest to comprehend the motivations behind human behavior. Since my youth, I have been an optimistic and energetic individual, surrounded by numerous hobbies and friends. Having traveled extensively and lived and worked in diverse cultures, I have gained a broad perspective on the intricacies of the human mind. My educational background includes studying business administration and pursuing modules in philosophy, psychology, schema work and later also psychedelic assisted therapy. I have effectively applied this knowledge to analyze corporate structures and cultures. However, despite my hard work and ascent up the career ladder, I always felt a sense of something missing.

    In 2016, a friend gifted me with a transformative psychedelic experience on my birthday in the North Sea dunes. Being an experienced meditator at the time, I was able to dive in deep. Its profound and intricate nature makes it close to impossible to give an adequate description through words alone. All of my accumulated knowledge became something to be experienced and felt, rather than merely understood on a rational level. I gained the ability to see through my own patterns and grasp them as a whole. This revelation illuminated the missing piece of the puzzle, ultimately granting me the ability to savor life in the present moment as it unfolds.

    With genuine enthusiasm and a warm smile, I am dedicated to listening to and truly understanding your unique story. I possess the ability to ask the right questions without judgment, guiding you to explore your inner self more deeply. Together, we will prepare you for your personal journey. I will provide you with the necessary tools and teach you how to delve into and navigate your own path. My primary objective is to help you gain invaluable insights that will enable you to savor life each and every day.

    Strolling around in nature with my three kids and my beloved wife makes me feel like the most fortunate man alive. I also enjoy riding my mountain bike through the forest where we live, or exploring the city nearby.

    Reach me at Pieter@Awayk.nl or +31626888363

  • Facilitator and Breathwork Specialist

    I guide people on their personal journeys and processes. I help people move forward on cognitive, physical, emotional, and energetic levels, enabling them to gain clarity in important life decisions. I do this without unnecessary complexity, but with depth.

    Within Awayk, I guide individuals and am responsible for all Breathwork sessions, to prepare individuals for their inner journeys and help facilitate a strong integration afterward.

Our customers

At Awayk, we strongly believe every individual is distinct, lives in a unique environment and deserves a tailored approach, experience, dose and integration. There really is no “one size fits all” solution. 

We typically work with high-achieving individuals who strive to make the most out of life yet feel something is lacking, or want to deepen their knowledge of the nature of the mind. Who cognitively grasp most concepts out there, yet continue to experience persistent patterns that are not serving them. All of them with a strong level of curiosity for psychedelics and the beauty it could offer but not having tried it (in this way) yet. They might have heard about psychedelic experiences in the grapevine, or noticed the trend in the industry, and now feel that the time is right to explore this mystical experience.

What we offer

By pursuing our goal to create the optimum conditions for the psychedelic experience, our journey stands out. We are renowned for our unwavering dedication to personal care throughout the entire process, from preparation to integration. We understanding that this is more than “just a trip”, so we strive to ensure that our guests receive the deepest insights and lasting positive effects out of this magical experience. Let us guide you from your gut feel of wanting to know more about psychedelics to having an epiphany in your life.