Eighteen and over
MHT does not facilitate anyone under eighteen. Smartshops apply the same limit. Your age is discussed during intake rather than checked at the door.
Before you travel
Is psilocybin legal in the Netherlands?
Truffles yes, mushrooms no. And the question underneath is the more interesting one: what the law here does not regulate.
Truffles containing psilocybin are legal to buy and use in the Netherlands. No law prohibits organising a ceremony or taking part in one. You are not operating in a grey area.
For most people searching this question, that is the answer they came for. But there is a second question underneath it, and it is rarely asked: if this is permitted, who supervises it?
Nobody. More on that below, because it matters more than the text of the law itself.
What the law says
Psilocybin and psilocin, the active substances, are on list I of the Dutch Opium Act. In 2008 the mushrooms containing those substances were banned as well, following a series of incidents involving tourists in Amsterdam.
That ban was written around the mushroom itself. A truffle is botanically something else: a sclerotium, the underground mass of the same fungus. It fell outside the list and has remained legal. The distinction is a legal one rather than a pharmacological one, because the active substance in both is exactly the same.
This is why every serious provider in the Netherlands works with truffles. If someone offers you mushrooms, they are breaking the law, and that tells you something about how carefully they work. What the two actually are is explained under magic truffles and how they differ from mushrooms, and the Amsterdam situation specifically under magic mushrooms in Amsterdam.
What the law does not regulate
This is the part that matters. The Netherlands has no licence for facilitating a truffle ceremony. No register, no training requirement, no regulator and no quality mark. Anyone may call themselves a facilitator and begin tomorrow.
So the law guarantees you nothing here. Quality depends entirely on who is sitting in front of you, and finding that out is your own job. MHT is a member of the LVNT, a Dutch professional association for natural health practitioners, but that is not a quality mark for ceremonies and is not presented as one.
What you can check, with MHT and with any other provider: is there an intake conversation before you pay, are you asked about medication and psychiatric history, how many facilitators are there per participant, and is there aftercare. And the most telling question of all: does this provider ever say no. A provider who accepts everyone is not screening.
Where MHT draws those lines is set out under risks and contraindications.
In practice
What to keep in mind
No driving
Driving under the influence is a criminal offence in the Netherlands and psilocybin is no exception. You do not drive for the rest of the day after a ceremony. That is also why MHT collects you if you are staying at a hotel nearby.
Nothing crosses the border
Psilocybin is prohibited in almost every other country, including within the European Union. Buying truffles legally in the Netherlands changes nothing the moment you leave it. Take the experience home, not the truffles.
Drug tests
The roadside saliva test used by Dutch police does not look for psilocybin, and a standard employer urine test usually does not either. That does not change the point above about driving.
Travelling here for a ceremony
Dutch law applies on Dutch territory and makes no distinction based on where you come from. You may take part here regardless of what applies at home, and you do not need a permit, a prescription or a residence status to do so. That is precisely why people travel from across Europe and beyond for this.
One thing is absolute: take nothing back with you. Psilocybin is prohibited in almost every other country, inside the European Union as well, and the fact that you bought it legally here does not matter at your destination. The practical side of travelling to Vijfhuizen is covered under coming to the Netherlands for a psilocybin retreat.
Questions about the law
Is psilocybin legal in the Netherlands?
Truffles containing psilocybin are legal to buy and use in the Netherlands, and no law prohibits organising or attending a ceremony. Mushrooms containing the same substance have been banned since 2008. So the honest answer depends on the form: truffles yes, mushrooms no.
Are magic mushrooms legal in Amsterdam?
No. Mushrooms containing psilocybin were banned across the Netherlands in 2008, and Amsterdam is no exception. What smartshops in Amsterdam sell legally are truffles, not mushrooms. Anyone offering you mushrooms is breaking the law.
Why are truffles legal when mushrooms are not?
Psilocybin and psilocin are on list I of the Dutch Opium Act. The 2008 ban was written around the mushroom itself. A truffle is botanically something else: a sclerotium, the underground mass of the same fungus. It fell outside that list and stayed legal. The distinction is legal rather than pharmacological, because the active substance is the same in both.
Can I legally take part as a visitor from another country?
Yes. Dutch law applies on Dutch territory and makes no distinction based on where someone is from. What is prohibited at home does not change what is permitted here. This is the reason people travel to the Netherlands for a ceremony.
Can I take truffles home with me?
Do not. Psilocybin is prohibited in almost every other country, inside and outside the European Union, and having bought truffles legally in the Netherlands is not a defence at your destination. This applies to flights, trains and cars alike.
Does a facilitator need a licence?
No, and this matters more than the question of legality. The Netherlands has no licence, no register, no training requirement and no regulator for people who facilitate truffle ceremonies. Anyone may call themselves a facilitator and start tomorrow. Quality therefore depends entirely on the provider you choose.
Is MHT accredited or certified?
MHT is a member of the LVNT, a Dutch professional association for natural health practitioners. That is not a quality mark for ceremonies and should not be read as one; it says something about the therapeutic practice around them. What you can check with any provider is whether there is an intake before you pay, whether medication and psychiatric history are asked about, how many facilitators there are per participant, and whether there is aftercare.
Can I buy truffles myself and use them at home?
Legally, yes. Truffles are sold openly in smartshops. Whether it is wise on your own is a different question. What a ceremony adds is a known dose, a space arranged for it, a sober person sitting beside you and a conversation afterwards.
This page describes the situation in the Netherlands as it stands and is not legal advice. It says nothing about what applies in your own country, and MHT makes no predictions about future Dutch legislation.
Still have a question about taking part from abroad?
Ask before you book a flight. We can explain how intake works and what a ceremony day looks like, so you know what you are travelling for.