The invention relates to a dielectric barrier discharge lamp (1) comprising an anode (3) and a cathode (4), a discharge vessel (2) having a pump tube (10) and starting electrodes (6, 7) disposed along the outside of the pump tube (10), said discharge lamp having a starting coating (13) disposed in the inside of the pump tube (10). The starting coating (13) is centrally disposed over the starting electrode (7) that is connected to the cathode (4). Said arrangement achieves a reduction in the duration for the starting sequence for reliably starting the lamp (1).