A method for producing aqueous polymer dispersions by means of radically initiated emulsion polymerisation, in an aqueous medium, of vinyl ester and ethylene, in series-connected polymerisation reactors, wherein in a first discontinuous polymerisation phase at least some of the reactants are introduced into the first polymerisation reactor and the remainder is added in a metered fashion. The reactor is filled up to more than 90% by volume, and at least 90 wt % of the monomers are reacted; in a second continuous polymerisation phase, the reactants are continuously supplied to the first polymerisation reactor and product is continuously withdrawn, and the product is continuously transferred into a second polymerisation reactor, and in the second polymerisation reactor the polymerisation is continued until at least 98 wt % of the monomers used have reacted.