A transverse element for a drive belt, includes a recess on either side for at least partially accommodating a ring assembly of the drive belt. The transverse element includes a base part lying radially inside the recesses, a connecting piece lying between the recesses, and a head part lying radially outside the recesses, the base part on either side of the connecting piece being provided with a radially outwardly directed saddle surface for contact with a ring assembly, and between a saddle surface and the connecting piece a notch being provided, in which notch a convexly curved part connects to the respective saddle surface, and in which notch a concavely curved part connects to a respective substantially axially directed side face of the connecting piece. The concavely curved part on either side of a radially most inward lying part thereof has a mutually differing degree of curvature.