The invention relates to an electromagnetic drive device, comprising a drive part (10), which has a circular or oval cross-section, can move in a to-and-fro manner in the stroke direction (H), and which has a permanent magnet arrangement that is magnetized transversal to the stroke direction (H). Said permanent magnet arrangement has at least one pair of oppositely magnetized magnet parts (11-14)that are placed one behind the other in the stroke direction, and is situated in the interspace of a yoke arrangement (16) having pole pieces (19-22) that, in the magnetizing direction, are provided on opposite sides of the drive part (10). The yoke arrangement (16) has two pairs of pole pieces (19, 21 and 20, 22), which delimit the interspace and which are connected to one another via two yoke areas (23, 24) extending essentially parallel to the stroke direction (H). At least one of the yoke areas (23, 24) is surrounded by a coil (25, 26) that can be flown through in order to effect a stroke. A pair of oppositely magnetized magnet parts (11, 12 and 13, 14) of the permanent magnet arrangement is assigned to each pair of pole pieces (19, 21 and 20, 22). This makes it possible to easily obtain a very slim design.