Isabel (Izzy) van Zuilen is the woman organizing the women-only Sobertopia walks, events, retreats, and now the brand new Sobertopia HQ community.
This is the story of how one personal shift became a movement for alcohol-free connection, joy, and empowered living…
Hi! I’m Izzy, a Dutch expat who left Amsterdam in 2006 and never quite stopped moving. I grew up among the city’s iconic canals, earned my degree from Hogeschool van Economische Studies Amsterdam, and spent my twenties and early thirties in the casino industry, working across both online platforms and land-based venues.
Eventually, life led me to Gibraltar, where I met my wonderful husband, B. A few years later, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, C.
When she was young, I explored a career in real estate, but it didn’t take long to realize my heart wasn’t in it. I chose to step away and devote myself fully to motherhood, a decision that unexpectedly opened new paths I never saw coming.
During those years, a quiet question kept surfacing: what would life look like without alcohol? I’d struggled with binge drinking since my teens, and by 2019, I knew I was ready for something different. That’s when I started this blog, and shortly after, my sober Instagram, to document what became one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I even had the chance to share a bit of my story in a 10-minute interview with Nicole King on RTV Marbella TV.
What started as a deeply personal journey has since grown into something far greater. Today, my alcohol-free path has blossomed into Sobertopia, a space built on connection, inspiration, and joyful sober (curious) living. I now host alcohol-free walks, events, and retreats that bring women together in supportive and uplifting ways. Most recently, I launched Sobertopia HQ, a dedicated community where we connect, grow, and celebrate each other, whether you’re sober-curious or fully committed to alcohol-free living.
Through this blog and everything I create, I share personal stories, reflections, practical tips, and the lessons I continue to learn. My hope is that something here resonates with you, encourages you, or simply reminds you that you’re not alone. Whether you’re already on this path or just starting to wonder what life might feel like without alcohol, you belong here.
I’d love to hear from you. Your questions, stories, and ideas truly matter. Let’s keep walking this path, together!
Izzy x
