In an example holographic data storage medium, which has a polymer film which serves as a storage layer and can be changed locally by heating, the polymer film is set up as a top layer of the data storage medium. Arranged underneath the polymer film is an absorber layer which has an absorber dye. The absorber dye is set up to at least partly absorb a write beam serving to put information in and to discharge the heat produced in the process at least partly locally to the polymer film. In an advantageous refinement of the example data storage medium, there is an adhesive layer underneath the absorber layer and a partly transparent reflective layer between the polymer film and the absorber layer.