Erkelenz is a medium-sized town located in the Rhineland region of western Germany. It serves as the largest municipality within the district of Heinsberg in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Geographically, the town is situated on the northern edge of the Cologne Lowland, positioned halfway between the Lower Rhine and the Lower Meuse regions. It lies approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Mönchengladbach.