The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N-substituted 3-aminopropan-1-ols by a) reacting secondary amine with acrolein at a temperature of (−50) to 100° C. and a pressure of 0.01 to 300 bar, and b) reacting the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a pressure of 1 to 400 bar, wherein the molar ratio of secondary amine to acrolein in stage a) is 1:1 or more and the temperature in stage b) is in the range from (−50) to 70° C. In a preferred embodiment, acrolein which has been obtained from glycerol based on renewable raw materials is used. The invention further relates to the use of an N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropan-1-ol (DMAPOL) based on renewable raw materials as a catalyst for polyurethane preparation, as a scrubbing fluid in gas scrubbing, in the electronics chemicals and electroplating sectors, as a feedstock in organic synthesis, and as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals and crop protection compositions.