PurposeData on the epidemiology, treatment, and outcome of burn patients treated at non-burn centre hospitals are not available. The primary aim was to compare the burn characteristics of patients admitted to a hospital with or without a specialized burn centre.MethodsThis multicentre, prospective, cohort study enrolled patients with burns admitted to a hospital without a burn centre and patients with < 10% total body surface area (TBSA) burned admitted to the burn centre. Primary outcome measure was the burn-related injury characteristics. Secondary outcome measures were adherence to the Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) referral criteria, treatment (costs), quality of life, and scar quality.ResultsDuring the 2-year study period, 48 patients were admitted to a non-burn centre and 148 patients to the burn centre. In the non-burn centre group, age [44 (P25–P7526–61) versus 30 (P25–P758–52) years;P= 0.007] and Injury Severity Score [2 (P25–P751–4) versus 1 (P25–P751–1);P< 0.001] were higher. In the burn centre group, the TBSA burned was significantly higher [4% (P25–P752–6) versus 2% (P25–P751–4);P= 0.001], and more surgical procedures were performed (in 54 versus 7 patients;P= 0.004). At 12 months, > 85% of the non-burn centre group and > 75% of the burn centre group reported no problems in quality of life. Scar quality score was < 1.5 in both groups, with significantly poorer scores in the burn centre group (P≤ 0.007).ConclusionBoth groups differed in patient, burn, and treatment characteristics. At 12 months, quality of life and scar quality were good in both groups. Significantly poorer scar quality scores were found in the burn centre group. This might be related to their larger burns and more frequent surgery. The organization of burn care in the Netherlands seems to work adequately. Patients are treated locally when possible and are transferred when necessary.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00068-023-02233-9.