Dialkyl esters of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid are prepared from a 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-containing starting material in a process, which includes: contacting a vaporous stream of an alkanol countercurrently with the at least partially liquid starting material having the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, in a reaction zone to conduct an esterification reaction to yield the dialkyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and water; withdrawing a reaction vapor comprising the alkanol and water from the reaction zone; and discharging a liquid phase having at least the dialkyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, from the bottom part of the reaction zone, to obtain the dialkyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid.