Multi-stage broadband directional coupler, comprising the following features: - the directional coupler comprises a coupler housing as an outer conductor, - the directional coupler comprises a housing interior having inner lateral surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing, - the coupler housing is separated along a plane of separation into two identical coupler housing halves (1a, 1b), - the directional coupler comprises two coupling links (21, 23) extending in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing, wherein each of the two coupling links (21, 23) comprises at least two successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c), - a line transition is provided between the at least two coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c), - the coupling links (21, 23) are accommodated in a housing interior, - the coupler housing halves (1a, 1b) are identical or substantially identical, wherein one coupling link is accommodated and held in one coupler housing half and the other coupling link is accommodated and held in the second coupler housing half, - in plan view, the two coupling links are arranged one above the other, - each of the coupling portions has a line width LB and a line thickness LD in the vertical height direction perpendicular to the plane of separation, wherein each of the coupling portions is arranged at a coupling distance KA between the two coupling portions (21a and 23a or 21b and 23b or 21c and 23c) which are adjacent to one another in each case, - a line transition is formed between the respective successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c) of the two coupling links (21, 23), which line transition is provided for changing the material cross section of the coupling link (21, 23), i.e. for changing the line width and/or the line thickness and/or the coupling distance between a coupling portion (21a, 21b, 21c) of one coupling link and a coupling portion (23a, 23b, 23c) of the other coupling link that lies one above the other, - the coupler housing has an interior width between the inner lateral surfaces of the coupler housing, which width is the same or deviates by less than 30% in the region of the successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c) over the length of the housing interior, wherein an electrically conductive shield is provided in the region of the line transition in the housing interior, which shield is connected to the coupler housing and is oriented so as to extend transversely or perpendicularly to the inner lateral surfaces and perpendicularly to the in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing and therefore to the coupling links (21, 23). - the directional coupler comprises a coupler housing as an outer conductor, - the directional coupler comprises a housing interior having inner lateral surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing, - the coupler housing is separated along a plane of separation into two identical coupler housing halves (1a, 1b), - the directional coupler comprises two coupling links (21, 23) extending in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing, wherein each of the two coupling links (21, 23) comprises at least two successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c), - a line transition is provided between the at least two coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c), - the coupling links (21, 23) are accommodated in a housing interior, - the coupler housing halves (1a, 1b) are identical or substantially identical, wherein one coupling link is accommodated and held in one coupler housing half and the other coupling link is accommodated and held in the second coupler housing half, - in plan view, the two coupling links are arranged one above the other, - each of the coupling portions has a line width LB and a line thickness LD in the vertical height direction perpendicular to the plane of separation, wherein each of the coupling portions is arranged at a coupling distance KA between the two coupling portions (21a and 23a or 21b and 23b or 21c and 23c) which are adjacent to one another in each case, - a line transition is formed between the respective successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c) of the two coupling links (21, 23), which line transition is provided for changing the material cross section of the coupling link (21, 23), i.e. for changing the line width and/or the line thickness and/or the coupling distance between a coupling portion (21a, 21b, 21c) of one coupling link and a coupling portion (23a, 23b, 23c) of the other coupling link that lies one above the other, - the coupler housing has an interior width between the inner lateral surfaces of the coupler housing, which width is the same or deviates by less than 30% in the region of the successive coupling portions (21a, 21b, 21c; 23a, 23b, 23c) over the length of the housing interior, wherein an electrically conductive shield is provided in the region of the line transition in the housing interior, which shield is connected to the coupler housing and is oriented so as to extend transversely or perpendicularly to the inner lateral surfaces and perpendicularly to the in the longitudinal direction of the coupler housing and therefore to the coupling links (21, 23).