Patrick de Kruijk

My name is Patrick (42). Three years ago, I left the Netherlands for Spain in search of more space, calm, and a different way of living.

After my student years in Tilburg, I moved to Amsterdam, where I worked as a sales manager at a startup. In 2016, we successfully sold the company to an American-Canadian firm, and I stayed on for two more years. Professionally things were going well, but personally I struggled with addiction. After two clinical admissions, I knew in 2021 that something had to change.

I took a sabbatical and spent a year living near the forests of Amerongen. That period became the foundation of my recovery. It showed me how powerful your environment can be when you’re trying to rebuild your life.

Not long after, I moved to Spain and found Villa Torrent, a small countryside property near Valencia. I started over here with my dog Guus. Today there are three dogs and eight chickens, and a slower, more grounded way of life.

Through daily walks, simple routines, healthy food, and time in nature, I discovered what truly supports my recovery. Villa Torrent became my home, and gradually it also became a place where others could come to slow down and reset.

The property includes my house and several small guest cottages. Over time, I began hosting small retreats and groups. What stood out to me was how quickly people found peace here—not through strict programs, but through nature, simplicity, and genuine connection.

That experience led to the creation of Sober Retreats Valencia: a small, supportive place for people in recovery who need space, structure, and a change of environment.

I’m not a therapist or a clinic. I’m a host who shares a place and a rhythm of life that helped me rebuild my own.