A one-day summerclass on the brain, energy and adaptability in a world where change never stops.
Thursday July 2nd.
Gain insights from leading experts in psychology, neuroscience & sports.
A serene estate near the Belgian–Dutch border, just 10 minutes from Breda, with lunch and drinks provided.
Immerse yourself with like-minded professionals in a fast-changing world.
A guided session where you'll learn breathing techniques to lower stress, sharpen focus and increase energy.
Counting down. Pushing through.
Running on empty... just a little longer.
As if two weeks off will fix months of overload. But deep down, you know it won’t. Because exhaustion doesn’t disappear on holiday. It follows you there. In your head. In your habits. In the way your brain has learned to cope with constant pressure.
Here’s wat science reminds us:
If you don’t reset when it's needed, you don’t recover later.
Let's be clear: this summerclass is not about slowing down, but about waking up: understanding how your brain really works under pressure.
Learning how to recharge before you hit the wall. And building the mental flexibility to handle a world that won’t stop changing.
To become your most resillient self.
Pressure is inevitable. But losing your balance isn’t. Uncover how your brain responds to pressure, and explore how small shifts can help you stay balanced, focused and resilient in a fast-changing world, guided by Aisha, our brain expert, who translates science into practical tools.
Discover with Elke Geraerts, CEO of Better Minds, PhD psychologist and expert in change resilience, how to build sustainable energy, strengthen your adaptability and create habits that support long-term performance and well-being.
Many people operate on autopilot, pushing through while their body gradually shifts into survival mode. In this workshop, discover with Karsten Kroon, former Tour de France stage winner turned breathwork expert, how something as simple as breathing can become a powerful, science-based tool to regain control, manage stress and build lasting energy and resilience.
Discover how your mindset, focus and self-awareness shape your performance, and how to build the inner strength needed to thrive under pressure. Winning isn’t about external results: it’s an inside job, guided by Marit Bouwmeester, four-time Olympic medalist and the most successful sailor of all time, who translates elite performance into practical mental strategies.
15u00 - 16u00
Keynote on navigating change and finding meaning
Life doesn’t come with a manual, and according to Jef Willem, that’s exactly the point. In this keynote, he invites you to embrace uncertainty, make choices without guarantees and learn to navigate as you go, drawing on his work as bestselling author and co-creator of the podcast Onbespreekbaar on mental wellbeing.
I look forward to being your host for the day. Expect a transformative experience that will challenge
your thinking and gently push you beyond your comfort zone. See you soon!
Meet the minds behind the insights, guiding you
through every keynote and workshop.
Wouter will guide you throughout the day as your host, connecting the different keynotes and workshops into one coherent and impactful experience.
At Better Minds, Wouter works as a Learning & Development Manager. With a background in Work and Organisational Psychology, and a specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology, he brings a deep understanding of how people grow, perform and recharge. His approach is rooted in positive psychology, with a strong focus on personal development, vitality and sustainable employability.
Strive to Thrive // 10:00 - 10:45
With a Master’s degree in Psychology, a PhD in Biological Psychology, and a postdoctoral specialization in Systemic Psychotherapy, Aisha combines strong academic depth with a highly practical approach. Her expertise includes topics such as stress, emotional intelligence, sleep, resilience, energy management, healthy workplace cultures, and performance.
Today, Aisha translates scientific research into clear, actionable insights that shift perspectives and strengthen mental wellbeing in organizations. She advises organizations worldwide on building sustainable wellbeing cultures and speaks at national and international conferences.
Watch her latest TEDx Talk here on Why we don't sleep.
Resilience By Design // 10:45 - 11:30
Elke shows like no other how to build mental resilience and focus, without fuss.
She has held academic positions at Harvard, St Andrews, Maastricht, and Rotterdam universities, and was recently a visiting professor at Ghent University's Faculty of Economics and Business. Driven by a strong desire to make an impact, Elke leads Better Minds as CEO and speaks worldwide about focus, mental capital, and human leadership in times of change.
She is the author of six bestsellers, translated into English, Chinese, Korean, and Arabic. Her most recent books are Focus is the New Gold and, together with Marie Loop, Mentaal Kapitaal Voor Jongeren.
Watch her keynote on Courageous Leadership here.
Breathwork Session // 11:30 - 13:00
For sixteen years, Karsten competed at the highest level of professional road cycling, riding for international top teams such as Rabobank and BMC. A stage victory in the Tour de France marked one of the highlights of a career defined by discipline, endurance and performing under constant pressure.
After his final race and his divorce, a new chapter began. Karsten set out in search of a different kind of balance in his life. It became a journey to give meaning to everything he had experienced, but above all to rediscover a sense of calm.
That search brought him surprisingly close to himself. One of the most powerful tools he found was something that had always been there: his own breath. Today, Karsten works with leading organizations, using breathwork as a practical and science-based tool to strengthen resilience, improve focus and help people perform sustainably under pressure.
Winning is an inside job // 14:00 - 15:00
With four Olympic medals: silver in London 2012, gold in Rio 2016, bronze in Tokyo 2021 and gold again in Paris 2024, Marit Bouwmeester made history as the most successful sailor of all time. On top of that, she was crowned world champion four times and European champion five times in the Laser Radial class.
Together with Professor Nico W. van Yperen, she is the author of the book Winnen met je hoofd (Winning with your mind), which combines sports psychology and her personal story. Today, Marit puts her passion and expertise to good use as a keynote speaker at Better Minds, where she combines scientifically based insights with her experience as a top athlete.
Watch her TEDx Talk here on winning in your head.
A manual for a life without a manual // 15:00 - 16:00
Jef Willem is a versatile professional with a strong voice on mental health. As an author, podcast creator and marketer, he knows how to make complex topics accessible and relatable to a wide audience. In the popular podcast Onbespreekbaar (Unspeakable), he and Nicolas Overmeire break through persistent taboos surrounding mental well-being. More than 7 million listeners found recognition and nuance in the podcast.
His book, Omdat We Hier Niet Genoeg Over Praten (Because We Don't Talk About This Enough), was number one for ten weeks. Now he's just published another book, Een handleiding voor een leven zonder handleiding (A manual for a life without a manual).
Watch his TEDx Talk here.
.png)
The entire summerclass will be held in Dutch. Documentation & hand-outs will also be provided in Dutch.
We have special conditions and bulk discounts for teams and companies. Feel free to reach out to talk about the possibilities.
Absolutely! You can enter your VAT number at checkout. A valid invoice will automatically be emailed to you. If you are ordering from a Belgian organisation, your invoice will be sent through Peppol.
You can have a look at our conditions here.
.png)