A motor vehicle seat with a ventilating device comprises (a) a ventilating insert (5) that is placed into a recess on the side of an upholstery core facing a seated person, (b) an air-permeable upholstery layer covering the side of the ventilating insert facing the seated person, and (c) a ventilator (12), at least partially inserted into an indentation in the side of the upholstery core facing the seated person, that sucks in the air from partial areas of the seating surface and provides it to those partial areas. At least a portion of the air flow between the ventilator and the upholstery covering occurs via an air-distribution layer (10) of the ventilating insert (5).