From 1794 to 1815 it belonged to France, along with the lands left of the Rhine, and was given a permanent contingent of French troops. Initially Erkelenz formed a municipality ("Munizipalität"), from 1800 a "mairie" (mayoralty) and, from 1798, was the seat of the canton of Erkelenz in the "arrondissement" of Crefeld, which was part of the "département" of Roer. In 1815 the King of Prussia became the new landlord following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. In the years 1818/19 the tumbledown town walls and gates were demolished. Instead of walls the four present-day promenade streets were built, each named after their respective points of the compass. From 1816 to 1972 Erkelenz was the seat of the rural district of Erkelenz ("Kreis Erkelenz").