Recklinghausen (German pronunciation: [ʁɛklɪŋˈhaʊzən] ⓘ) is a Kreis (district) in the centre of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

It is surrounded by the neighbouring districts of Borken, Coesfeld, Unna, Gelsenkirchen, Bottrop, and Wesel.

Apart from the Region Hannover, Kreis Recklinghausen is the largest non-city district in Germany by population.

The coat of arms show a silver nettle leaf on green ground - the sign of the Herrlichkeit Lembeck, an Amt (subdivision) in the clerical state of Münster.

The black cross is the sign of the Bishops of Cologne who owned a big part of the district's area, the Vest Recklinghausen.