Process for the continuous preparation of N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) by reacting gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) with monoethylamine (MEA) in the liquid phase, wherein GBL and MEA are used in a molar ratio in the range from 1:1.08 to 1:2 an the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range from 320 to 420° C. and an absolute pressure in the range from 70 to 120 bar.