Ems-Occidental

Ems-Occidental ([ɛms ɔk.si.dɑ̃.tal], "Western Ems; Dutch: Wester Eems, German: West-Ems) was a department of the First French Empire in the present-day Netherlands and Germany. It was formed in 1810, when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed by France. Its territory corresponded more or less with the present Dutch provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. Its capital was Groningen. The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):[1]

• 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.

Map of the current province of Groningen and the different departments it belonged to

Its population in 1812 was 191,100.[1]

After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, except the canton of Jemgum and most of Weener, which became part of the Kingdom of Hanover (presently part of Lower Saxony, Germany).