Abstract: A hydrostatic drive system includes a user in the form of a differential cylinder connected in a closed circuit to a high-pressure pump. A piston-side compression chamber and a piston-rod-side compression chamber of the differential cylinder are in communication with the high-pressure pump. The closed circuit includes a protection device having first and second protection valve devices that each includes a pressure relief valve and an anti-cavitation valve. The pressure relief valve of the first protection valve device is provided with an override device, by means of which the opening pressure of the pressure relief valve can be varied. When the high-pressure pump delivers into the piston-rod-side compression chamber, the pressure relief valve of the first protection valve device is adjusted by means of the override device to a reduced opening pressure and the differential volumetric flow flows out via the pressure relief valve to a low-pressure system.