Ahlen is a town located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approximately 30 km southeast of Münster and serves as part of the larger Münster region within the historic Münsterland area.
The town is a constituent part of the District of Warendorf and holds the distinction of being the district's most significant economic center. Ahlen also incorporates the nearby villages of Dolberg, Vorhelm, and Tönnishäuschen, while the city of Hamm lies to its southwest as the largest neighboring town.