first set of rolls a the moisture content of the fibrous web w is raised after the first set of rolls a by means of an intermediate moistening unit 7 and the fibrous web w is dried to a desired final moisture level in the second set of rolls b in that connection in accordance with the invention it is advantageous that the first drying with the pre drying unit 2 raises the moisture content of the fibrous web w which is advantageously overdried according to the invention to a level of 3 10 in which connection the first set of rolls a can dry the fibrous web w to a level of 1 6 and that the second moistening with the intermediate moistening unit 7 raises the moisture content of the fibrous web w to a level of 6 14 in which connection the second set of rolls b can dry the fibrous web w to a desired final moisture level which is advantageously in a range of 4 5 7 5 this kind of multi stage moistening allows the moistening to be applied substantially only to the surface layers of the fibrous web and enables the moisture gradient of the fibrous web to be controlled with fewer problems and more quickly than before thereby allowing provision of higher quality paper grades such as for example wfc lwc roto and sc a to control the amount of the intermediate moistening of the fibrous web w and or the penetration of moisture into the fibrous web and to thereby control the moisture gradient the intermediate moistening unit 7 which is either a water moistener or an electricity aided moistener can be arranged optionally either to moisten the fibrous web w on one side or to moisten the fibrous web on.