Electromagnetic linear actuator, including: a stator, which consists at least partially of soft-magnetic material; an armature at least partially consisting of soft magnetic material and mounted on the stator in such a way, that the armature is movable relative to the stator along a longitudinal axis, wherein the armature and the stator are formed in such a way that along the longitudinal axis in an open position, a gap (L A) is present between armature and stator and that in a closed position armature and stator rest against one another in such a way that the gap (L A) is closed; a first armature coil (A, A1), which is connected to the armature in such a way, that a force acting on the first armature coil (A, A1) can be transmitted to the armature; and means for generating a magnetic excitation field (A, B, A1, B1, C) guided at least partially by the stator and the armature and which is directed such that a force acts on the first armature coil (A, A1) when energized, that is transmitted to the armature to close the gap (L A), wherein stator, armature and the magnetic excitation field are further configured in such a way, that with the gap (L A) closed between stator and armature, a retaining force can take effect, characterized in that the means for producing the excitation field next to the first armature coil (A, A1) includes an excitation coil (B, B1) assigned thereto and mechanically coupled with the stator, wherein the first armature coil (A, A1) and the excitation coil, when energized, generate opposed magnetic fields superimposing each other and thus forming a resulting excitation field with a field component oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, and that in an open position, the first armature coil (A, A1) and the excitation coil (B, B1) assigned to it are arranged adjacently in such a way, that with energized coils, the field component of the excitation field oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis interacts with the first armature coil (A, A1) in such a way that a force closing the axial gap (L A) acts on the first armature coil (A, A1) in the longitudinal direction. a stator, which consists at least partially of soft-magnetic material; an armature at least partially consisting of soft magnetic material and mounted on the stator in such a way, that the armature is movable relative to the stator along a longitudinal axis, wherein the armature and the stator are formed in such a way that along the longitudinal axis in an open position, a gap (L A) is present between armature and stator and that in a closed position armature and stator rest against one another in such a way that the gap (L A) is closed; a first armature coil (A, A1), which is connected to the armature in such a way, that a force acting on the first armature coil (A, A1) can be transmitted to the armature; and means for generating a magnetic excitation field (A, B, A1, B1, C) guided at least partially by the stator and the armature and which is directed such that a force acts on the first armature coil (A, A1) when energized, that is transmitted to the armature to close the gap (L A), wherein stator, armature and the magnetic excitation field are further configured in such a way, that with the gap (L A) closed between stator and armature, a retaining force can take effect, characterized in that the means for producing the excitation field next to the first armature coil (A, A1) includes an excitation coil (B, B1) assigned thereto and mechanically coupled with the stator, wherein the first armature coil (A, A1) and the excitation coil, when energized, generate opposed magnetic fields superimposing each other and thus forming a resulting excitation field with a field component oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, and that in an open position, the first armature coil (A, A1) and the excitation coil (B, B1) assigned to it are arranged adjacently in such a way, that with energized coils, the field component of the excitation field oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis interacts with the first armature coil (A, A1) in such a way that a force closing the axial gap (L A) acts on the first armature coil (A, A1) in the longitudinal direction.