A description about the transformation of a psychiatric hospital was given from an administrative-psychiatric point of view. The organizational changes needed to realize a kind of patient care which makes it possible to the patient to participate in the decision making about his treatment program, were mentioned. This process of change is a long term one. Much endavour is needed to reach the planned goals. The greatest problem is: how to change the behaviour of the perronnel. The ways used for that purpose in the psychiatric hospital 'Veldwijk', Ermelo, were described.