Cloppenburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Ammerland, Oldenburg, Vechta, Osnabrück, Emsland and Leer.

History

The region was part of the county of Tecklenburg in medieval times. It was then for a long time (1400-1803) property of the bishop of Münster. In 1803 it was annexed by Oldenburg and remained a part of Oldenburg until 1945.

The district was established in 1933.

Geography

The district comprises the western portion of a historical region called Oldenburgisches Münsterland, which means "lands of Oldenburg formerly held by Münster". It is a plain countryside, which was originally swampy and full of tiny rivers and brooks.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms displays: top left and top right: the cross as well as the red stripes are part of the arms of Oldenburg bottom left: three water lilly leaves made up the arms of Tecklenburg bottom right: red and yellow are the colours of Münster Its blazon is: "Quarterly; I: Or, two bars Gules; II: Azure, a cross Or; III: Argent, three water lily leaves Gules; IV: Or, a fess Gules".

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)