Hydraulic directional valve comprising - a valve housing with a receiving opening which penetrates the valve housing at least partially axially in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the valve housing having a first throughflow opening of a supply connector, a second throughflow opening of a first working connector, a third throughflow opening of a second working connector, a fourth throughflow opening of a first tank connector and a fifth throughflow opening of a second tank connector, the throughflow openings (18, 20, 22, 24,- 26) being configured such that they can be flowed through at least partially by a hydraulic fluid which flows through the valve housing, - a piston with a first control groove, which piston can be displaced axially along the longitudinal axis in the receiving opening in the valve housing, - a displacement apparatus for the axial displacement of the piston, it being possible for the first control groove to be positioned relative to the throughflow openings (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) with the aid of the displacement apparatus, and the displacement apparatus having an energizable first displacement part and a pressurized second displacement part which are configured so as to interact with flow forces of the hydraulic fluid which occur during operation, the first control groove having a compensation element in order to compensate for the flow forces of the hydraulic fluid, the first control groove having a first control edge which is configured so as to face the first displacement part, and a second control edge which is configured so as to face the second displacement part, the compensation element being configured in the region of the second control edge, an element edge of the compensation element, which element edge is configured so as to face the first throughflow opening, being spaced apart, in the case of an open flow cross section which is configured at a maximum at the first control edge, with an axial second length which is oriented in the direction of the first control edge from a third control edge of the second throughflow opening, which third control edge is configured on the valve housing and is configured on a side of the second throughflow opening, which side faces the first throughflow opening. - a valve housing with a receiving opening which penetrates the valve housing at least partially axially in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the valve housing having a first throughflow opening of a supply connector, a second throughflow opening of a first working connector, a third throughflow opening of a second working connector, a fourth throughflow opening of a first tank connector and a fifth throughflow opening of a second tank connector, the throughflow openings (18, 20, 22, 24,- 26) being configured such that they can be flowed through at least partially by a hydraulic fluid which flows through the valve housing, - a piston with a first control groove, which piston can be displaced axially along the longitudinal axis in the receiving opening in the valve housing, - a displacement apparatus for the axial displacement of the piston, it being possible for the first control groove to be positioned relative to the throughflow openings (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) with the aid of the displacement apparatus, and the displacement apparatus having an energizable first displacement part and a pressurized second displacement part which are configured so as to interact with flow forces of the hydraulic fluid which occur during operation,