Valve device for actuating an operating cylinder having at least one first and one second cylinder chamber (52, 54), wherein the valve device has: a) a first main valve having at least a1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, a2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, a3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the first cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the first main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the first main valve, b) a second main valve having at least b1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, b2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, b3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the second cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the second main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the second main valve, wherein c) at least one controllable secondary valve device is arranged in the connecting paths (42, 44, 45) of the pressure medium discharge ports (221, 241) to the pressure medium sink, d) the secondary valve device is controllable such that the pressure medium discharge port (221, 241) of that main valve (22, 24) whose cylinder chamber port (223, 243) or cylinder chamber (52, 54) connected thereto is pressurized is shut off with respect to the pressure medium sink by means of the secondary valve device at least when the respective other main valve (22, 24) is not actuated, characterized by the following features: a) the secondary valve device has a first controllable shut-off valve which is arranged in the use path of the pressure medium discharge port of the first main valve to the pressure medium sink, b) a control port of the first shut-off valve is connected to the cylinder chamber port of the second main valve or to a second cylinder chamber connected to said cylinder chamber port, c) the secondary valve device has a second controllable shut-off valve which is arranged in the connecting path of the pressure medium discharge port of the second main valve to the pressure medium sink, d) a control port of the second shut-off valve is connected to the cylinder chamber port of the first main valve or to a first cylinder chamber connected to said cylinder chamber port. a) a first main valve having at least a1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, a2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, a3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the first cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the first main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the first main valve, a1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, a2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, a3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the first cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the first main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the first main valve, b) a second main valve having at least b1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, b2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, b3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the second cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the second main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the second main valve, wherein b1) one pressure medium supply port which is connectable to a pressure medium source, b2) one pressure medium discharge port which is connectable to a pressure medium sink, b3) one cylinder chamber port which is connectable to the second cylinder chamber and which, by actuation of the second main valve, is selectively connectable to the pressure medium supply port or to the pressure medium discharge port of the second main valve, wherein c) at least one controllable secondary valve device is arranged in the connecting paths (42, 44, 45) of the pressure medium discharge ports (221, 241) to the pressure medium sink, d) the secondary valve device is controllable such that the pressure medium discharge port (221, 241) of that main valve (22, 24) whose cylinder chamber port (223, 243) or cylinder chamber (52, 54) connected thereto is pressurized is shut off with respect to the pressure medium sink by means of the secondary valve device at least when the respective other main valve (22, 24) is not actuated, a) the secondary valve device has a first controllable shut-off valve which is arranged in the use path of the pressure medium discharge port of the first main valve to the pressure medium sink, b) a control port of the first shut-off valve is connected to the cylinder chamber port of the second main valve or to a second cylinder chamber connected to said cylinder chamber port, c) the secondary valve device has a second controllable shut-off valve which is arranged in the connecting path of the pressure medium discharge port of the second main valve to the pressure medium sink, d) a control port of the second shut-off valve is connected to the cylinder chamber port of the first main valve or to a first cylinder chamber connected to said cylinder chamber port.