Space is one of Emmen’s strong points. The municipal territory covers no less than 35,000 hectares. Unlike municipalities in the Randstad, the western urban agglomeration, for example, Emmen still has an abundance of land available for residential development and business establishment.  

The municipality of Emmen has no fewer than 11 developed industrial and office parks. On the south-western side of the city, construction is starting on the new environmentally responsible residential area known as Delftlanden. Meanwhile, existing districts such as Emmermeer and Bargeres are being brought up to date according to the latest concepts of urban planning (Emmen Revisited). Emmen is internationally famous for its Noorder Dierenpark, a zoo that attracts almost 1,5 million visitors every year. Unusual concepts of urban planning applied in Emmen, including the city’s abundance of landscaped areas, have made this municipality nationally and internationally known for being an open, green city. Emmen is also the leading city for education in the Northern Netherlands. Emmen also wants to continue reinforcing its economic and facilitating role for the region. Ambitious plans are currently being prepared and implemented for completion in the near future.

A37
One of these is the Hoogeveen-Emmen-Meppen motorway (N37) that has been doubled in width to produce a four-lane motorway (A37). This is the fastest connection between the Randstad and the ports in Northern Germany. Along this motorway, the Municipality of Emmen will be developing attractive leading locations for business. To the south of Emmen, a spacious water recreation area (Grote Rietplas/Parc Sandur) has been realised. And, along the Noordbarger Es and adjoining Emmen’s city centre, construction is under way to create a spectacular expansion of the Dierenpark Emmen (zoo). A unique traverse is already connecting the existing zoo to this new addition.