In a veneer dewatering apparatus, a clutch 30 is arranged on a power transmission path between upper and lower rolls 4, 6 and rotating shafts 20. When a veneer portion without a part such as a knot having extremely high compressive strength compared to the other parts passes between the upper roll 4 and the lower roll 6, or when a veneer passes between the upper roll 4 and the lower roll 6 with no foreign matter such as dust interposed between the upper and lower rolls 4, 6 and the veneer, the clutch 30 connects the upper and lower rolls 4, 6 to the rotating shafts 20. When a veneer passes between the upper and lower rolls 4, 6 with a knot and other foreign matters intervening, the connection between the upper and lower rolls 4, 6 and the rotating shafts 20 by the clutch 30 is released.