The invention relates to a solenoid valve having a valve cartridge, which includes a pole core, a valve insert connected to the pole core, an armature that is axially movably guided inside the valve insert and is coupled to a main closing element, and a valve body connected to the valve insert. The valve body forms a main valve with the main closing element and is disposed between at least one first flow opening and a second flow opening. The axial motion of the armature and of the main closing element opens the main valve against the force of a restoring spring, and the force of the restoring spring closes the main valve. According to the invention, the main closing element is designed as a sliding element axially movably guided inside an inner bore of the valve body. The sliding element and the armature are connected to each other and are pressure-compensated by a compensating port. The sliding element is moveable into an open position by a linear axial opening motion of the armature, and is moveable into a closed position by the restoring spring via the at mature by a linear motion.