In a process for hydrogenating an aromatic compound in which at least one hydroxyl group is bonded to an aromatic ring or an aromatic compound in which at least one amino group is bonded to an aromatic ring, in the presence of a catalyst comprising as catalytically active component at least one metal of transition group I, VII or VIII of the Periodic Table applied to a support, the catalyst is obtainable bya) dissolving the catalytically active component or a precursor compound thereof in a solvent,b) admixing the solution thus obtained with an organic polymer which is able to bind at least ten times its own weight of water, giving a swollen polymer,c) subsequently mixing the swollen polymer with a catalyst support material andd) shaping, drying and calcining the composition obtained in this way.