To determine breast cancer screening results according to country of birth data were used from the breast cancer screening organization of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Overall (age-adjusted) attendance of the breast cancer screening was 76% for women aged 50-69. Attendance was significantly lower for women born in non-western countries (Surinam 59%, Turkey 44% and Morocco 37%) and for women with residence in Amsterdam (68%). Referral and detection rates for women from non-western countries were 5.1 and 2.2 per 1000 screened women, respectively, compared with 8.8 and 4.0 for women born in The Netherlands (P<0.05). The positive predictive value was 45% for women born in The Netherlands and western countries and 43% for women born in non-western countries. Although women born in non-western countries attend breast cancer screening less frequently than women born in The Netherlands, they also have a low detection rate. The latter finding justifies a passive attitude towards the low attendance.