The invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and to a process for reducing the level of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines. The catalyst consists of a support body of length L and of a catalytically active coating which in turn may be formed from one or more material zones. The material zones comprise a copper-containing zeolite or a zeolite-like compound. The materials used include chabazite, SAPO-34, ALPO-34 and zeolite β. In addition, the material zones comprise at least one compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium/aluminum mixed oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof. Noble metal may optionally also be present in the catalyst.