In the period of 1972-1982 the number of foreigners admitted to mental hospitals increased gradually. Foreigners are defined as born outside the Netherlands having a foreign nationality. The increase turned out to be 91 percent, broadly the same as the increase in the number of foreigners living in the Netherlands. The amount of admissions of Turkish and Moroccan people was the highest of all foreigners, namely 36 percent. While the Turks are the largest group of foreigners in the Netherlands (148.000 per 1 jan. 1982), the Moroccans (93.100 per 1 jan. 1982) appeared to be a higher risk group to be admitted in a mental hospital, especially young men in the age of 20 to 30 years. A difference between Turkish and Moroccan patients and the Dutch population proved to be the length of stay. Turkish and Moroccan people appeared to stay much shorter in the mental hospitals (resp. 97% and 80% leave within 3 months) than Dutch patients (61% leave within 3 months). Proposals are made for a better registration of the use of mental health services by minority groups, especially by the second generation.