Back to Me — Becoming Your Own Best Friend

Retreats

Back to Me | Becoming Your Own Best Friend

Twice a year, we gather in nature for a deeply nourishing retreat for 10–14 women.
A quiet, restorative pause from everyday life, designed to help you slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with what truly matters.

This retreat is an invitation to return to yourself.

Christie - Linley - a life aligned with you - retreat

A place to land

Our retreats take place at De Hoorneboeg, a unique cultural estate and nature reserve just south of Hilversum. Surrounded by 190 hectares of heathland and forest, it offers a rare sense of stillness, space, and grounding.

Here, away from noise and urgency, something essential becomes possible:
you can hear your own inner voice again.

We want create that workplace
christie linley - inner balance-self-trust-emotional safety-clarity of needs and direction

The intention

Each retreat is rooted in the philosophy of Be Your Own Best Friend.

Together, we explore the practices that support:

  • inner balance

  • self-trust

  • emotional safety

  • clarity of needs and direction

  • living and leading with more ease

There is time for reflection, sharing, rest, and gentle inquiry. Nothing is forced. Everything is invited.

This is not about fixing yourself, it’s about remembering who you are beneath the roles, expectations, and constant doing.

I want to book a discovery call
Christie - Linley - Leaders regain strategic focus, presence, and clarity

How we work

The retreat is held by two complementary facilitators, Laura Willecke and Christie Linley, creating a grounded, attentive field where whatever needs to emerge is welcome.

We offer:

  • a listening ear

  • thoughtful guidance

  • practical tools and exercises you can take into daily life

The strength of the retreat lies in the safety of the space.
All feelings are welcomed. Nothing needs to be explained away or improved.

This is the workshop we once searched for ourselves, and couldn’t find.
So we created it.

“Energy flows where attention goes.”

retreat for feel stretched, tired, or disconnected from yourself

Who this retreat is for

This retreat is designed for curious women who feel a quiet (or loud!) call to reconnect to themselves.   

You may recognize yourself if you:

  • feel stretched, tired, or disconnected from yourself

  • want to slow down without guilt

  • long for clarity about your needs, direction, or purpose

  • want to lead and live with more balance and self-trust

  • value depth, reflection, and meaningful connection

You don’t need to have answers.
Only a willingness to listen.

Relaxation

Time to slow down, unwind, and simply be, away from professional and personal pressure.

Self-discovery

Explore your fundamental needs and learn how to express what truly matters to you.

Empower your mind

Learn tools to work with thoughts and emotions, supporting balance, authentic leadership, and resourcefulness.

Connect with your body

Gentle breathing practices and optional morning yoga to reconnect body and mind.

Community & connection

Co-create a supportive circle of women, a network that often continues long after the retreat ends.

retreat for a specific group of women

Practical details

  • Twice per year

  • 10–14 women

    • Friday evening — arrival & simple, delicious dinner from 6 pm. 

    • Saturday — training day, all meals included

    • Sunday — training day, breakfast & lunch, closing at 4 pm

    • Shared or single rooms (upon request)

    • Personal or shared bathrooms

  • De Hoorneboeg, Hilversum

  • English (Dutch possible depending on group)

  • Upon request

Should you wish to organize a retreat for a specific group of women, we’re happy to explore this with you.
The venue typically needs to be booked around 6 months in advance. This is a highly desired location and therfore our booking has to be ensured and paid for well in advance, specifically:6-7 months. 

A bowl of mixed salad with sliced radishes, beets, crumbled cheese, walnuts, and greens on a wooden surface.
A wooden birdhouse attached to a tree trunk in a forest setting, with blurred greenery and branches in the background.
An empty room with light wooden floors and white walls, featuring open shelves stocked with exercise mats, towels, and baskets, large windows, and wooden beams.
Retreat Christy Linley | A grassy field with six reclined lounge chairs arranged in a semi-circle, surrounded by wildflowers, with a dense tree line in the background.
Retreat Christy Linle |cozy bedroom corner with a white bed, open book and glasses on it, next to a side table with a vase of pink flowers, a glass of tea, and books, illuminated by a gold floor lamp, against a light green wall with a sloped ceiling.
A dirt path through a lush green forest leading to a gate at the end of the trail.

“In slowing down, we begin to hear what life has been trying to tell us all along.”

Begin the journey

In a world full of distraction and external pressure, we come together to reconnect with the most important person in our lives: ourselves.Contact me to get your questions answered from Monday to Friday. I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Interested in a private or custom retreat? Get in touch

Reviews

  • 'Deze workshop doet echt wat wordt beloofd: thuiskomen bij jezelf. Dit alles onder bezielende leiding van twee ervaren coaches, die een warme en prettige sfeer in de groep weten te creëren. Ik ben blij dat ik heb meegedaan!' 

    Heidi -zorg Co-ordinator

  • Flag of Australia

    “The Back to Me retreat created a safe and warm space to turn inwards.
    The feminine energy and space held allowed me to open up to my vulnerabilities.
    The insights have been life changing.”

    — Katherine

  • The flag of the United Kingdom, also known as the Union Jack, with a red, white, and blue design.

    “What you have created is very special and evidently so needed.
    It has been a gift to be part of it.”

    — Anne

  • Flag of Sweden with a blue background and yellow cross.

    “Amazing job — exactly what I needed.
    Beautiful location, wonderful group, and a powerful collaboration between you both.”

    — Ian

  • British flag with red, white, and blue colors.

    “I felt incredibly safe.
    The workbook, the feelings cards, the yoga, the food — everything was so nourishing.”

    — Emily