Thirty years ago, British psychiatry served as a model for the development of day-treatment in The Netherlands. The authors, both working in day-hospitals of the psychiatric hospital `Wolfheze', were enabled to follow the development of day-treatment in England and Wales.

The main conclusions are:

1. Relatively speaking, the number of psychiatric beds in England and Wales is considerably smaller than in The Netherlands, whereas the number of day-patient places is considerably higher.

2. There is no reason why this development should not be followed in The Netherlands.

3. Although psychiatric day-treatment in The Netherlands, when compared to England and Wales, is characterized by a larger variety of treatment facilities, a more frequent use of psychotherapy, better personnel, more financial and material means, more emphasis on multi-disciplinary teamwork, it is evident that the British system of day-treatment is a more adequate approach when dealing with more serious and chronic psychiatric problems.