From 1965 until 1979 about 14.000 patients were attended to by the psychiatrie emergency service at the Amsterdam University Hospital. Of each visit a short semi-structured record exists. From a random sample demographic, diagnostic and outcome data are presented. Most patients lived very close to the hospital (75%). 50% of patients were single living; 35% were depressed, 34% came for suicidal attempts. An unexpectedly small minority of patients needed clinical admission, which may be related to a fine network of social psychiatrie services in Amsterdam.