Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, each of which two intake valves and two exhaust valves, respectively arranged in a valve mount of a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine as well as a coolant distributing chamber and a coolant accumulating chamber being associated to. For each cylinder two coolant ducts are formed in the cylinder head and each is fluidly connected to the corresponding coolant distributing chamber and the corresponding coolant accumulating chamber. A first one of the coolant ducts on a first side extends about a first one of the intake valves and on a second side opposite the first side about a first one of the exhaust valves, and a second one of the coolant ducts extends on the first side about a second one of the intake valves and on the second side about a second one of the exhaust valves.