A water-based coating compositions including: at least one cross-linkable water-reducible binder having acid functional groups and functional groups with active hydrogen, at least one polyisocyanate cross-linking agent with free isocyanate groups, and water and optionally at least one organic solvent. The acid functional groups of the at least one water-reducible binder are at least partly neutralized with at least one neutralizing agent, the neutralizing agent including a monoamine having a secondary amino group attached to a tertiary carbon atom. The monoamine is preferably a reaction product of at least one monoamine having a primary amino group attached to a tertiary carbon atom and a mono-epoxide, or a reaction product of at least one monoamine having a primary amino group attached to a tertiary carbon atom and a mono-unsaturated compound.