The history of ICPR
Founded in 2007, the OPEN Foundation had a unique goal: to advance psychedelic research. OPEN's psychedelic conferences, later named ICPR, quickly gained international recognition. Today, the momentum continues to build as we eagerly anticipate the 7th edition of ICPR in 2026.
2007
The OPEN Foundation is established
Following a renewed resurgence of interest in psychedelics in the mid-2000s, The OPEN Foundation ('Stichting OPEN' in Dutch) was established.
2010
Mind Altering Science
After several years of organising individual university lectures, we hosted our inaugural two-day conference 'Mind Altering Science' in 2010 at the University of Amsterdam, with over 450 participants.
Groundbreaking research on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and LSD-assisted therapy for anxiety in terminally ill patients. Featuring keynote speaker and long-time collaborator Torsten Passie, renowned ayahuasca psychopharmacologist Jordi Riba and neurologist Andrew Sewell.
2012
ICPR 2012
The second edition of the conference, and the first under the name ICPR, took place on October 6-7, 2012, at Waterlooplein in Amsterdam, drawing over 400 attendees. Professor Wouter Hanegraaf opened the event with a lecture on entheogenic religions, set in the beautiful, historic Aaron & Moses Church.
Notable speakers included Ben Sessa, Robin Carhart-Harris, Matt Johnson, Ilsa Jerome, Mitzi Waltz, Jordi Riba, and Torsten Passie, making this a defining moment in Europe's psychedelic research movement.
2016
ICPR 2016
After a four-year hiatus, ICPR made a triumphant return to Amsterdam. This time, the charming canalside building 'The Jewel' served as the picturesque venue with the atrium's glass roof beautifully illuminating ICPR's 550 attendees.
This marked the first occasion where ICPR extended to three days and featured two concurrent tracks. ICPR 2016 boasted an impressive lineup of over 60 speakers, including notable figures like Alicia Danforth, Roland Griffiths, Marcela Ot'alora, Bill Richards, and, of course, Torsten Passie.
2020
ICPR 2020
Organising ICPR 2020 was a monumental effort spanning over a year and a half, as we navigated unprecedented challenges. Originally planned for April 2020 at Philharmonie Haarlem, it was reimagined as a fully virtual conference in response to the global pandemic, drawing nearly 1,400 attendees from around the world.
Featuring speakers such as Michael Mithoefer, Janis Phelps, Wade Davis, and Katrin Preller, ICPR 2020 explored topics including diversity, equity, access in psychedelic medicine, and the medicalisation and mainstreaming of psychedelics.
2022
ICPR 2022
Hosted over three inspiring days at the Philharmonie Haarlem, ICPR 2022 marked a major post-pandemic milestone in psychedelic research, drawing over 1,200 attendees from around the world. The conference reignited in-person connection and collaboration, setting the stage for a new era of psychedelic exploration.
Featuring leading voices such as Paul Stamets, Bill Richards, and David Nichols, ICPR 2022 brought together researchers, clinicians, and advocates for groundbreaking discussions that advanced the frontiers of psychedelic science, therapy, and consciousness research.
2024
ICPR 2024
ICPR 2024 opened with Pia Dijkstra, the Dutch Minister of Healthcare, who highlighted the urgent need for innovation in mental health and further research into psychedelic therapies. Over 1,100 researchers, therapists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts came together in Haarlem.
The conference began with pre-ICPR events - Pathways to Access Summit and Workshops on Psychedelic Therapy - before three inspiring days of talks, panels, and networking.
2026
ICPR 2026
As the field of psychedelic research enters a new era, ICPR 2026 aims to deepen collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and policymakers. Hosted in Haarlem, it will serve as a space to reflect on the breakthroughs of the past and envision the responsible future of psychedelics in healthcare, culture, and society.
