A vehicle seat, in particular to a motor vehicle seat, having a base structure (3) that is to be connected to the vehicle structure (S) and a backrest (10) that can be moved relative to the base structure (3) by kinematics, such as to transfer the vehicle seat (1) from at least one usage position allowing a person to sit down to a non-usage position or to another usage position. A multi-bar linkage, in particular a four-bar linkage (V), exists at least temporarily, which linkage controls the kinematics. A leaf spring (30) is provided in the vehicle seat. The leaf spring forms a gear element of the multi-bar linkage in the relaxed extended state thereof.