Ems-Occidental - Definition and Overview

Ems-Occidental is the name of a département of the First French Empire in the present Netherlands and Germany. It is named after the river Ems. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponds more or less with the present Dutch provinces Groningen and Drenthe. Its capital was Groningen. The département was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons:

• Groningen, cantons: Groningen (2 cantons), Hoogezand, Leek and Zuidhorn.
• Appingedam, cantons: Appingedam, Loppersum, Middelstum and Winsum.
• Assen, cantons: Assen, Dalen, Hoogeveen and Meppel.
• Winschoten, cantons: Jemgum, Wedde, Weener and Winschoten.

After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the département became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, except the canton Jemgum and most of Weener, which became part of the Kingdom of Hanover.