A valve device includes a valve having an electrodynamic actuator. The electrodynamic actuator includes a movably mounted control element having a coil and a magnet arrangement immovable relative to the coil. A driving force caused by energization of the coil and transmitted to the control element substantially is linearly dependent on the current intensity. A front-end electronic unit is connected with the coil and includes a capacitor connected in parallel to the coil. A method for controlling a valve as mentioned above provides that, upon actuation of the electrodynamic actuator, during energization of the coil by a voltage source, a capacitor connected in parallel to the coil is charged. After termination of the energization by the voltage source, the coil is energized further by a discharge of the capacitor.

An electronic circuit for actuating an electromagnetic linear actuator includes a ground input for a DC voltage source, a ground output to the electromagnetic linear actuator, a supply input for connecting the DC voltage source, a load output to the electromagnetic linear actuator, a first switch for selectively disconnecting the load output from the supply input, a second switch for selectively disconnecting the ground output from the ground input, and a control unit for controlling the first switch and the second switch. The load output is connected to the ground input by a first electronic valve and the ground output to an input side of the first switch by a second electronic valve, which each provide electrical connections in order to conduct an induction current induced in the electromagnetic linear actuator after opening of the electronically controllable switches.