Background. Several trials have shown the potential of lifestyle intervention programmes for prevention of type 2 diabetes. The effectiveness of implementation of these programmes into daily practice is now being studied in several countries. The ‘Active Prevention in High Risk individuals of Diabetes Type 2 in Eindhoven’ (APHRODITE) study investigates whether type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention is effective in Dutch primary care. In this article we describe the process of recruiting the study participants. Objective. To assess the reach of an active strategy to recruit participants for a programme on type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention in Dutch primary care. Methods. A diabetes risk questionnaire was sent to general practice patients aged 40–70 years. Individuals with a risk score above threshold were invited for an admission interview with the GP and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). All individuals with non-diabetic glucose levels were asked to participate in the intervention study. Results. In total, 8752 (54.6%) of the individuals returned the questionnaire in time. Of all high-risk individuals ( n = 1533), 73.1% contacted their practice to schedule a consultation with the GP. Response rates varied significantly among practices. Conclusions. Using invitational letters, a substantial amount of individuals could be motivated to participate in a programme on type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention in Dutch primary care. Further research is needed on what kind of strategy would be most effective and efficient to screen for individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes in primary care.