Named after an abandoned village on the island of Schokland, Emmeloord is located in a polder: land reclaimed from the IJsselmeer, which earlier was part of the sea.

From Emmeloord three main canals take their water to three pumping stations: the Buma near Lemmer (north), the Smeenge at Vollenhove (south-east) and the Vissering on Urk (south-west).

Ten smaller villages, conceived more as agricultural communities, were planned in a wide circle around Emmeloord, with the distances between them determined to be easily reachable by bicycle.

In order from first to last, these settlements were Marknesse (1946), Ens (1948), Kraggenburg (1948), Luttelgeest 1950, Bant (1951), Rutten (1952), Creil (1953), Nagele (1954), Espel (1956) and finally Tollebeek (1956).

Emmeloord lies at the intersection of the A6 motorway and the N50 dual carriageway, providing a rapid connection to Amsterdam, Zwolle and Friesland.