Introduction. Admission to the ICU is a signi�cant event for patients and their families and is oen accompanied by stress, anxiety and depression. Literature shows that implementation of "unrestricted visiting policy" (UP) can potentially alleviate psychologically distressing elements of ICU admission. Methods. A web-based questionnaire was sent to all ICU's concerning three main topics: general ICU information, detailed visiting policy information, and rationale for the chosen policy. Results. 87.1%(íµí±›íµí±› íµí±› íµí±›íµí±›íµí±› of ICU's retain "restricted visiting policies" (RVP; ≤�ve visiting hours per day). Knowledge about the current literature was overall 60.8%. ere is an UP in two academic hospitals and a "partly restricted policy" (PRP; >5 visiting hours per day but <24) in two academic, two large teaching and �ve general hospitals. Mean permissible duration in ICU's with a RVP was 165.6±79.2 min versus íµí±›8íµí±›.5±126 min in the PRP. Conclusion. Nine out of ten ICU's still have a restricted visiting policy. e main reasons cited for a restricted visiting policy were potential interference with the daily clinical routine and privacy. A better knowledge of the current literature in combination with infrastructural changes might improve patients' outcome by reducing stress for the patient and its family.