Psychedelic Therapy in the Netherlands: What’s Legal and What’s Not?
Understanding the legal landscape
The Netherlands has long been seen as a progressive context for psychedelic work. But the reality is nuanced. It’s important to understand what’s actually permitted—and what isn’t.
Legal vs illegal: what’s the difference?
Psilocybin truffles (the underground part of the mushroom) are legal in the Netherlands.
Psilocybin mushrooms (the fruiting body) are not.
Therapy involving psilocybin truffles is permitted if not marketed as a medical treatment.
Substances like ayahuasca, LSD, or MDMA are not legal for therapeutic use outside of clinical trials.
So what is legal psychedelic therapy?
Technically, the work is not defined as therapy in a clinical sense—but as guided support, coaching, or inner work. That’s how ETI operates.
Our retreats are not medical treatments. They are professionally held spaces for experiential learning and emotional healing.
ETI’s approach to safety and ethics
We ensure:
Careful screening and preparation
Licensed and experienced therapists and facilitators
Clear protocols for safety and aftercare
Transparency about what we offer—and what we don’t
The future of psychedelic therapy in Europe
Laws are changing rapidly. Clinical trials with MDMA and psilocybin are showing promise. But until formal regulation is in place, ethical practice matters more than ever.
Curious about working in this field?
ETI trains professionals to navigate this emerging space with integrity. Explore our training programme →
