The invention relates to a vertical roller mill and a method for operating a vertical roller mill, wherein the grinding assemblies thereof, consisting of a grinding table and at least one grinding roller, interact such that material to be ground is comminuted in the grinding bed between the grinding table and the at least one grinding roller, wherein at least one grinding assembly is driven and at least one grinding assembly is pulled, and the pulled grinding assembly is braked in order to increase the flow of energy through the grinding bed between the grinding table and the at least one grinding roller.