Coloured icones, descriptions and microscopic drawings are presented of 21 European species of Psathyrella: P. amarescens. P. purpureobadia. P. romagnesii. P. macrocystidiata. P. granulosa. P. sphaerocystis. P. leucotephra. P. chondroderma. P. scheppingensis. P. niveobadia. P. pseudocorrugis. P. lutensis. P. panaeoloides. P. twickelensis. P. dicrani. P. fageticola. P. fulvescens. P. gossypina. P. mesobromionis. P. ocellata. P. seymourensis. P. trivialis. Among them five species are described as new, viz.: P. amarescens. P. purpureobadia. P. macrocystidiata. P. scheppingensis. P. mesobromionis. In addition one new species is described without accompanying colour plate, viz. P. granulata. Most descriptions are based on collections that were made in The Netherlands. The species are described in agreement with the taxonomic order according to Kits van Waveren (1985).