Emden (German pronunciation: [ˈɛmdn̩] ⓘ) is an independent city and seaport in Lower Saxony in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems.

In the 16th century, Emden briefly became an important centre for the Protestant Reformation under the rule of Countess Anna von Oldenburg who was determined to find a religious "third way" between Lutheranism and Catholicism.

In 1542 she invited the Polish noble John Laski (or Johannes a Lasco) to become pastor of a Protestant church at Emden,[4]: xi  and for seven years he continued to spread the new religion around the area of East Frisia.

Emden was a very rich city during the 17th century, due to large numbers of Dutch and Flemish immigrants such as Diederik Jansz.

The Emden Convention, signed on 14 March 1744, was a treaty that formalised Prussia's annexation of East Frisia after the local Cirksena dynasty died out.

Carl Edzard, the last Count of East Frisia, assumed power in 1734 but faced opposition from Emden and other estates, leading to political and economic isolation.

Prussia, under Frederick II, aimed to secure its claim to East Frisia, relying on a 1694 decree from Emperor Leopold I.

After Carl Edzard’s death on 25 May 1744, Prussia quickly occupied East Frisia without resistance, and the region soon swore allegiance to the Prussian crown.

The city was recaptured by Anglo-German forces in 1758 and for the rest of the conflict was used as a major supply base by the British to support the ongoing war in Westphalia.

Coal from the south was transported to the North Sea port, and imported iron ore was shipped via the canal towards Rhine and the Ruhr.

During World War II, Emden was repeatedly targeted by Allied bombing raids, which destroyed the majority of the city center.

On 6 September 1944, the RAF and USAAF launched their largest bombing raid against Emden, which destroyed approximately 80% of all structures in the city center.

Another important economic sector is tourism, mainly as a day trip destination for tourists staying in the surrounding villages on the North Sea coastline.

A deep sea spot in the Pacific Ocean close to the Philippines is named after the first Emden ship, and is therefore called Emdentief in German.