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Objective: To describe the experience with circumcision of Moslem boys under local anaesthesia outside the hospital., Design: Prospective, descriptive., Method: A total of 94 circumcisions under local anaesthesia were performed from April through November 1997 in a Health Centre of the Municipal Health Service, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Pain and unrest of the boys were scored on a scale from 1 to 10 by the operating surgeon (1 = no pain/patient fully calm; 10 = unbearable pain/patient in panic). Postoperative follow-up was only done on request of the parents/fosterers. The reasons for these follow-ups were recorded. One week after the circumcision the parents/fosterers were asked if there were any complications and whether they were satisfied with this method., Results: The median age was 3 years (range: 2-24). The pain during the operation was scored by the surgeon with a median of 1 (1-6) while unrest scored a median of 3 (1-9). Thirteen children were seen again because of bleeding (n = 4), haematoma (n = 2), swelling (n = 7). One week after the operation 89% of 70 parents/fosterers interviewed by telephone were content with the treatment. The social aspect of this way of circumcision was much appreciated., Conclusion: Circumcisions under local anaesthesia outside the hospital are feasible. Complications were according to published figures and most parents were content. With this procedure a cost reduction of 70% may be achieved in comparison with clinically performed circumcision under general anaesthesia.