Process for oligomerizing C2- to C8-olefins in at least three reaction stages connected in series, each comprising at least one reactor and at least one distillation column, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a starting mixture comprising C2- to C8-olefins, and dividing the starting mixture into two feed streams, wherein the one feed stream is fed as feed stream to the first reaction stage and the second feed stream is fed as feed stream to at least one of the downstream reaction stages in which the olefin content in the feed stream is less than 50% by weight; (b) 1st reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the first reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a downstream distillation column, wherein the overhead product formed in the distillation column is at least partially fed as feed stream to the second reaction stage; (c) 2nd reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the second reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a distillation column, wherein the overhead product formed in the distillation column is at least partially fed as feed stream to the third reaction stage; (d) 3rd reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the third reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a distillation column; wherein the reactor(s) in the last reaction stage are operated adiabatically, but the reactors in the preceding reaction stages are cooled using a cooling medium; and wherein an oligomerization catalyst is used in the reactors of the individual reaction stages comprising a nickel compound on an aluminosilicate support material and which comprises less than 0.5% by weight titanium dioxide and zirconium dioxide in its overall composition, wherein the overhead product of the distillation column of the last reaction stage is fully discharged from the process. (a) providing a starting mixture comprising C2- to C8-olefins, and dividing the starting mixture into two feed streams, wherein the one feed stream is fed as feed stream to the first reaction stage and the second feed stream is fed as feed stream to at least one of the downstream reaction stages in which the olefin content in the feed stream is less than 50% by weight; (b) 1st reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the first reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a downstream distillation column, wherein the overhead product formed in the distillation column is at least partially fed as feed stream to the second reaction stage; (c) 2nd reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the second reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a distillation column, wherein the overhead product formed in the distillation column is at least partially fed as feed stream to the third reaction stage; (d) 3rd reaction stage: oligomerization, using an oligomerization catalyst, of the olefins in the feed stream to the third reaction stage in at least one reactor and separating the oligomers formed in this case as bottom product in a distillation column; wherein the reactor(s) in the last reaction stage are operated adiabatically, but the reactors in the preceding reaction stages are cooled using a cooling medium; and wherein an oligomerization catalyst is used in the reactors of the individual reaction stages comprising a nickel compound on an aluminosilicate support material and which comprises less than 0.5% by weight titanium dioxide and zirconium dioxide in its overall composition, wherein the overhead product of the distillation column of the last reaction stage is fully discharged from the process.