Hydraulic valve having a valve body in a valve housing which has a first, a second and a third recess (18, 20, 22), it being possible for a hydraulic medium to be fed in via the first recess, it being possible for the hydraulic medium to be fed to a pressure consumer via the second recess, it being possible for the hydraulic medium to be fed to a pressure sink via the third recess, it being possible for the valve body to be moved to and fro between two end positions, the hydraulic medium passing from the second to the third recess in the first end position, and the hydraulic medium passing from the first to the second recess in the second end position, characterized in that, during a switching action from the first into the second end position, the valve first of all opens a constant flow cross section for the hydraulic medium through the first recess by way of the valve body, then maintains the open flow cross section for a fixed time period, and, following the fixed time period, enlarges the flow cross section further until a maximum flow cross section is reached in the second end position, • a sealing action taking place between the valve body and the valve housing at a sealing seat, the sealing seat being arranged at a location of the transition from the first recess to the second recess, and the sealing seat serving as a stop edge for a middle part of the valve body, • the valve body leaving the sealing seat in a first phase during the switching action from the first into the second end position, with the result that a complete sealing action of the hydraulic medium which is pressurized in the first recess is no longer ensured, • the first recess having a hollow-cylindrical design on the side which faces towards the valve body, • the valve body having an axial region on its side which points towards the first recess, which axial region has a circumferential face with a cylindrical design, and, during the switching action from the first into the second end position, an annular gap being produced between the first recess and the axial region, which annular gap opens the flow cross section for the hydraulic medium, • the maximum flow cross section being reached as soon as an inlet edge which is arranged in the direction of the first recess on that side of the valve body which points towards the first recess leaves the axial region of the first recess. • a sealing action taking place between the valve body and the valve housing at a sealing seat, the sealing seat being arranged at a location of the transition from the first recess to the second recess, and the sealing seat serving as a stop edge for a middle part of the valve body, • the valve body leaving the sealing seat in a first phase during the switching action from the first into the second end position, with the result that a complete sealing action of the hydraulic medium which is pressurized in the first recess is no longer ensured, • the first recess having a hollow-cylindrical design on the side which faces towards the valve body, • the valve body having an axial region on its side which points towards the first recess, which axial region has a circumferential face with a cylindrical design, and, during the switching action from the first into the second end position, an annular gap being produced between the first recess and the axial region, which annular gap opens the flow cross section for the hydraulic medium, • the maximum flow cross section being reached as soon as an inlet edge which is arranged in the direction of the first recess on that side of the valve body which points towards the first recess leaves the axial region of the first recess.