Through the aid of a questionnaire, a group of prospective donors, donors and ex-donors was studied. The most important incentive to become a donor was the direct approach by another donor. The most important motives were altruistic in nature and the medical check-up which is a part of donation. The complaints and objections of donors related to the medical check-up, the distance traveled to the site of the medical examination and blood collection and the rather impersonal way donors were treated. The most important reasons why ex-donors had stopped giving blood referred to medical complaints, practical inconveniences, physical reactions to the giving of blood, the impersonal approach and the fear of detrimental side-effects of the giving of blood. The Dutch system, whereby no financial remuneration is offered for the donation of blood, appears to function satisfactorily. The survey justifies future research aimed to a greater degree on the connection between the motives of the donor and the way the blood bank functions.