A belt tensioning device comprising: a base body , a first tensioning arm which is mounted on the base body such that it can pivot about a first pivot axis (S1) and which has a rotatable first tensioning roller , a second tensioning arm which is pivotably mounted relative to the base body about a second pivot axis (S2) and which has a rotatable second tensioning roller , a spring arrangement which is arranged between the first tensioning arm and the second tensioning arm and via which the first tensioning arm and the second tensioning arm are resiliently supported against one another in the circumferential direction, and a damping mechanism operatively arranged between the base body and the first tensioning arm for damping relative rotational movement between the first tensioning arm and the base body , wherein the damping mechanism generates a varying damping torque (M) dependent on the rotational position and/or rotational direction of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body upon pivoting of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body , characterized in that a spring element is arranged radially between the base body and the first tensioning arm , wherein the spring element is held non-rotatably on the base body and a recess is arranged in the first tensioning arm or the spring element is held non-rotatably on the first clamping arm and a recess is arranged in the base body , that the spring element is arranged in overlap with the recess in the circumferential direction in the central rotational position of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body , and that , in a pivoted-out rotational position of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body which differs from the central rotational position, the spring element is pretensioned and is arranged exerting a radial force between a bearing surface of the base body and a bearing surface of the first tensioning arm . a base body , a first tensioning arm which is mounted on the base body such that it can pivot about a first pivot axis (S1) and which has a rotatable first tensioning roller , a second tensioning arm which is pivotably mounted relative to the base body about a second pivot axis (S2) and which has a rotatable second tensioning roller , a spring arrangement which is arranged between the first tensioning arm and the second tensioning arm and via which the first tensioning arm and the second tensioning arm are resiliently supported against one another in the circumferential direction, and a damping mechanism operatively arranged between the base body and the first tensioning arm for damping relative rotational movement between the first tensioning arm and the base body , wherein the damping mechanism generates a varying damping torque (M) dependent on the rotational position and/or rotational direction of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body upon pivoting of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body , characterized in that a spring element is arranged radially between the base body and the first tensioning arm , wherein the spring element is held non-rotatably on the base body and a recess is arranged in the first tensioning arm or the spring element is held non-rotatably on the first clamping arm and a recess is arranged in the base body , that the spring element is arranged in overlap with the recess in the circumferential direction in the central rotational position of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body , and that , in a pivoted-out rotational position of the first tensioning arm relative to the base body which differs from the central rotational position, the spring element is pretensioned and is arranged exerting a radial force between a bearing surface of the base body and a bearing surface of the first tensioning arm . <EOS>