Carlos Punzón
The creators of the wellness ship: "Galicia is like the Netherlands in the 70s: pure life, attention and serenity"
26 April 2026
An unexpected death led the Dutch couple Isabel and Harry to teach others how to be happy on their lugger ‘Marie’, which returns to the Rías Baixas in Galicia this summer.
One day, Isabel was struck by the big question, the existential doubt that arises in the face of a momentous event: "What is truly important in life?" Her partner, Menno, had just passed away at only 35 years old. Born on a farm north of Amsterdam, she worked for KLM, and at that moment, life's uncertainties overwhelmed her. "What can I do?" she constantly asked herself. "I decided to work hard on myself, to find a way to feel good, to live life to the fullest, to achieve good physical and mental health. And that process captivated me so much that I decided to dedicate myself to it."
Beside her, in a video call, Harry, also Dutch but from the historic Leiden of Rembrandt, reminisces about his life as an engineer and designer of offshore platforms and pipelines, as fleet manager for Greenpeace, when he was responsible for the renovation of the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, and more recently as a builder of offshore wind turbine substations. "I've lived on boats since I was five years old." "I can't do it on land, only on the water," he says.
Isabel Visser and Harry van der Heijden are the heart, soul, and crew of the ‘Marie’, the ship of well-being, the two-masted lugger with which they sail the world teaching those who come aboard how to live in balance, those who want to learn to leave stress behind, to release the burdens they've accumulated inside. They will return to Galicia for the fourth time in June, to the Vigo estuary, now their second home, to share their method of peace and happiness until the end of September. They arrived in the Rías Baixas by chance, looking for a rental car to travel to northern Portugal for hiking. The car rental agent convinced them not to miss the crystal-clear waters of Barra beach and the Cíes Islands. "That very afternoon we drafted the program for the expeditions with our boat. And in June 2022, we crossed the ocean to Galicia.
"Their eyes seem to lighten even more, and their ever-present smiles deepen when they talk about Galicia. 'Life in Galicia is pure. Someone told me I used to talk about Galicia like I talked about the Netherlands in the 70s, because life there is pure, serene, and the people are so attentive,' attributes that Isabel says she no longer finds in her homeland. 'And the nature! The sea and the estuaries are very, very beautiful,' adds Harry, a sailor with his own boat since he was seven, who enjoys the waters around the Cíes, Ons, and San Simón islands. 'It's very interesting to sail there, and that's why some people come two, three, even four times,' says Isabel, as Harry adds his own praise for Galician food and wine, extra motivation for making Vigo a regular stop.
The Marie is open to everyone. The couple makes a living from sailing trips with those who charter the boat for a day trip (maximum 20 people), creating unforgettable memories, or for 4- or 7-day experiences for groups of up to six people eager to learn how to live better. Mindfulness, yoga, connected breathing, tension-releasing exercises, Qi Gong (an ancient Chinese practice), creative expression through painting and intuitive writing, dance, and singing are some of the retreats offered on the Galician waters by the couple, which are showcased on their website, www.mariemindfulsailing.com.
Isabel and Harry aim to help those who board their boat cast overboard the burdens of their lives and learn how to prevent their own thoughts from interfering. "You can't change the wind, but you can adjust your sails," is one of the boat's mottos, encouraging people to find the best possible way out of life's challenges. "For me, understanding that life should not be taken for granted completely transformed me," Isabeltestifies.
The lugger Marie was launched in Serbia in 2018. Its 22 meters were designed by Harry following the pattern of boats dedicated to herring fishing. Two cabins inside, a spacious dining room, and two decks on either side of the bridge, as well as benches and hammocks for sleeping between the masts, create an atmosphere that invites you to disconnect from the moment you step aboard.
'The gentle rocking of the Marie on the water enhances the effect of all the exercises,' she adds, explaining the connection between the sea and relaxation, the basis of her lessons. 'I believe that people have blocked emotions in their system, sometimes years ago, and with breathing exercises that blockage can be lifted. They can cry, they can scream, and they can realize what they need to do from now on to avoid that fear, that stress, and that emotional blockage,' says Isabel, an experienced teacher of relaxation exercises. She gives the example of a Dutch woman who came to the Marie, not without fear of what she would find. 'She had ended a relationship and had many fears. I helped her come to Galicia, and she has completely changed. Now she leads a new life in Spain, without fear, in her own Casa Marie. Liberation is possible,' they assure.
