Landkreis Emsland (German: [ˈɛmsˌlant] ⓘ) is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany named after the river Ems.

For a long time the region of the Emsland was extremely sparsely populated, due to the fens on both sides of the river.

It came under rule of Prussia and Arenberg, but after the Napoleonic Wars the Congress of Vienna decided to hand the territory over to the Kingdom of Hanover.

This was accomplished by draining the fens and establishing projects like the test track of the maglev "Transrapid" and several large shipyards such as the Meyer-Werft in Papenburg.

(Population 2005) Free municipalities and towns Samtgemeinden Dörpen Freren Herzlake Lathen Lengerich Nordhümmling Sögel Spelle Werlte