diff --git a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX.pm b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX.pm
index 3e67dfea..0176c131 100644
--- a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX.pm
+++ b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX.pm
@@ -735,6 +735,7 @@ The following methods are available through a new worksheet:
     activate()
     select()
     hide()
+    very_hidden()
     set_first_sheet()
     protect()
     unprotect_range()
diff --git a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Package/Packager.pm b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Package/Packager.pm
index 81dd6947..6d43a9ac 100644
--- a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Package/Packager.pm
+++ b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Package/Packager.pm
@@ -396,18 +396,24 @@ sub _write_app_file {
 
     _mkdir( $dir . '/docProps' );
 
-    # Add the Worksheet heading pairs.
-    $app->_add_heading_pair( [ 'Worksheets', $self->{_worksheet_count} ] );
-
-    # Add the Chartsheet heading pairs.
-    $app->_add_heading_pair( [ 'Charts', $self->{_chartsheet_count} ] );
-
     # Add the Worksheet parts.
+    my $worksheet_count = 0;
     for my $worksheet ( @{ $self->{_workbook}->{_worksheets} } ) {
         next if $worksheet->{_is_chartsheet};
+
+        # Don't write/count veryHidden sheets.
+        next if $worksheet->{_hidden} == 2;
+
         $app->_add_part_name( $worksheet->get_name() );
+        $worksheet_count++;
     }
 
+    # Add the Worksheet heading pairs.
+    $app->_add_heading_pair( [ 'Worksheets', $worksheet_count ] );
+
+    # Add the Chartsheet heading pairs.
+    $app->_add_heading_pair( [ 'Charts', $self->{_chartsheet_count} ] );
+
     # Add the Chartsheet parts.
     for my $worksheet ( @{ $self->{_workbook}->{_worksheets} } ) {
         next unless $worksheet->{_is_chartsheet};
diff --git a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Workbook.pm b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Workbook.pm
index 09e869dc..bd137cf2 100644
--- a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Workbook.pm
+++ b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Workbook.pm
@@ -2787,10 +2787,16 @@ sub _write_sheet {
         'sheetId' => $sheet_id,
     );
 
-    push @attributes, ( 'state' => 'hidden' ) if $hidden;
-    push @attributes, ( 'r:id' => $r_id );
+    if ( $hidden == 1 ) {
+        push @attributes, ( 'state' => 'hidden' );
+    }
+    elsif ( $hidden == 2 ) {
+        push @attributes, ( 'state' => 'veryHidden' );
+    }
 
 
+    push @attributes, ( 'r:id' => $r_id );
+
     $self->xml_empty_tag( 'sheet', @attributes );
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Worksheet.pm b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Worksheet.pm
index 0bb0d088..58ce3fa7 100644
--- a/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Worksheet.pm
+++ b/lib/Excel/Writer/XLSX/Worksheet.pm
@@ -472,8 +472,9 @@ sub activate {
 sub hide {
 
     my $self = shift;
+    my $hidden = shift || 1;
 
-    $self->{_hidden} = 1;
+    $self->{_hidden} = $hidden;
 
     # A hidden worksheet shouldn't be active or selected.
     $self->{_selected} = 0;
@@ -482,6 +483,20 @@ sub hide {
 }
 
 
+###############################################################################
+#
+# very_hidden()
+#
+# Hide this worksheet. This can only be unhidden from VBA.
+#
+sub very_hidden {
+
+    my $self = shift;
+
+    $self->hide( 2 );
+}
+
+
 ###############################################################################
 #
 # set_first_sheet()
diff --git a/t/regression/hide02.t b/t/regression/hide02.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b9b56ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/regression/hide02.t
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+###############################################################################
+#
+# Tests the output of Excel::Writer::XLSX against Excel generated files.
+#
+# Copyright 2000-2023, John McNamara, jmcnamara@cpan.org
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Artistic-1.0-Perl OR GPL-1.0-or-later
+#
+
+use lib 't/lib';
+use TestFunctions qw(_compare_xlsx_files _is_deep_diff);
+use strict;
+use warnings;
+
+use Test::More tests => 1;
+
+###############################################################################
+#
+# Tests setup.
+#
+my $filename     = 'hide02.xlsx';
+my $dir          = 't/regression/';
+my $got_filename = $dir . "ewx_$filename";
+my $exp_filename = $dir . 'xlsx_files/' . $filename;
+
+my $ignore_members  = [];
+my $ignore_elements = {};
+
+
+###############################################################################
+#
+# Test the creation of a simple Excel::Writer::XLSX file.
+#
+use Excel::Writer::XLSX;
+
+my $workbook   = Excel::Writer::XLSX->new( $got_filename );
+
+my $worksheet1 = $workbook->add_worksheet();
+my $worksheet2 = $workbook->add_worksheet();
+my $worksheet3 = $workbook->add_worksheet();
+
+$worksheet2->very_hidden();
+
+$workbook->close();
+
+
+###############################################################################
+#
+# Compare the generated and existing Excel files.
+#
+
+my ( $got, $expected, $caption ) = _compare_xlsx_files(
+
+    $got_filename,
+    $exp_filename,
+    $ignore_members,
+    $ignore_elements,
+);
+
+_is_deep_diff( $got, $expected, $caption );
+
+
+###############################################################################
+#
+# Cleanup.
+#
+unlink $got_filename;
+
+__END__
+
+
+
diff --git a/t/regression/xlsx_files/hide02.xlsx b/t/regression/xlsx_files/hide02.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0abc5cdc
Binary files /dev/null and b/t/regression/xlsx_files/hide02.xlsx differ