Home | NPO Documentary Psychedelic Pioneering
NPO Documentary Psychedelic Pioneering
Did you also see the documentary?
Psychedelic Pioneering: a probing look at hopes, limits and legal realities
The NPO documentary Psychedelic Pioneering, broadcast on Thursday, September 11, 2025 by BNNVARA on NPO 2 and NPO Start, poignantly shows how two people, Alex and Fimme, turn to psychedelics in their search for relief from mental suffering.
The core of Psychedelic Pioneering
Alex, a former NS employee, suffers from severe PTSD after experiencing numerous suicides on the railroad. Fimme, with a history of addiction and an eating disorder, has struggled for years with mainstream mental health care in which attempts at help keep failing.
At Psychedelic Pioneering we follow their personal, vulnerable journey in which, after years of therapies, medications and treatment regimens, they pin their hopes on what are sometimes called “alternative” paths: sessions with truffles and psilocybin.
The documentary Psychedelic Pioneering clearly shows the impressive transformation the participants went through. Alex, trapped for years in the grip of PTSD, found through his journey renewed space to breathe and feel connection with himself and the world around him. Fimme, who struggled with addiction and an eating disorder, rediscovered his inner strength and zest for life. Their stories show that Psychedelic Pioneering is not just about experimenting with substances, but more importantly a process of healing, growth and personal development. The path from despair to hope, from struggle to acceptance, becomes tangible in the documentary and shows how, through courage and the right guidance, people can find a new perspective on their lives. This powerful transformation is at the heart of Psychedelic Pioneering and is what makes the documentary so moving and meaningful.
Six months after the recordings show how lasting the changes have been for both participants. Alex says that the nightmares and re-experiences that haunted him for years have disappeared, so he experiences more peace and stability in his daily life and now gives truffle ceremonies himself.
Fimme feels freer in his relationship with food and has built more confidence in himself. He has lost 12 pounds. The dark periods that previously held him captive have given way to a sense of balance and a growing appreciation for life.
Their stories underscore that the journey at the center of Psychedelic Pioneering is not a one-time experience, but a process that continues and can have lasting positive effects.
Legal situation: what is allowed and what is not
Important to know: although the documentary talks about “therapy” with psychedelics, psychedelic therapy is not yet recognized as a regular form of treatment in the Netherlands. Therefore, it cannot yet be called psychedelic therapy.
The Netherlands does have research on psilocybin and related substances, but there is no official approval (yet) for a standard treatment with these substances. That’s why you end up in the alternative circuit for a truffle ceremony, where unfortunately there is no reimbursement by health insurance companies.
As for the law, in the Netherlands fresh truffles (sclerotia) are legally available in smartshops. Truffles contain the same active substances such as psilocybin and psilocin as magic mushrooms, but are legally treated differently.
Mushrooms (both fresh and dried) are illegal. Dried truffles are also illegal. The production or sale of psilocybin in isolated or processed form, or the use of psilocybin outside regulated research or medically-controlled contexts, is not permitted.
Therefore, do proper research before choosing a professional to guide you on your inner journey.
Illegal "chocolates"
In Psychedelic Pioneering, scenes are shown in which Alex and Fimme take not only truffles, but also “some kind of chocolates” or other preparations containing herbs and psilocybin. It is important to emphasize that this type of product can be legally problematic: if it involves psilocybin or processed or dried truffles or magic mushrooms, it is against the law. These practices are presented in the documentary but they fall outside the scope of what is legally permissible.
Importance, reflection and regulation
The visual and personal stories of Alex and Fimme make it clear how heavy psychological suffering can be and how urgent the discussion is about the possibilities of psychedelics, the safety of guided use and the legislation surrounding it. This is why we have joined forces with several other professionals within the industry association Guild of Guides. Within all of Truffle-ceremony.com’s establishments, we work according to legally permitted guidelines.
Reliable guides affiliated with the Guild of Guides
The Guild of Guides Netherlands (Professional Association for Psychedelic Guides NL) is an organization dedicated to safety, quality and ethics in guided psychedelic experiences, focusing on legal substances such as fresh truffles (sclerotia).
Some aspects that are important in reliable counseling:
They have a code of conduct and quality standards that clearly state what forms of preparation, guidance and integration of experience are required.
- Supervisors within the guild work with legal substances (such as truffles) and in contexts where safety, informed consent and aftercare are taken seriously.
- There is a complaints committee where people with negative experiences can go.
- Collectively, we provide our own regulation so that members follow the rules of the law.
Want to download the Program for Transformation eBook for free?
Fill in your details here and instantly download the eBook on the Program for Transformation from Truffle-ceremony.com
