An objective lens for use in a transmission electron microscope, comprising: a first electromagnetic lens and a second electromagnetic lens arranged along an optical axis and on opposite sides of a sample placement surface on which a sample is placed, the first and second electromagnetic lenses producing their respective magnetic fields having components lying along the optical axis; a magnetic field applicator comprising a first magnetic field applying coil, a second magnetic field applying coil, and a coil yoke mounted around both the first and second magnetic field applying coils (32a, 32b), wherein the first magnetic field applying coil is disposed outside a first excitation coil of the first electromagnetic lens and the second magnetic field applying coil is disposed outside a second excitation coil of the second electromagnetic lens; and said first electromagnetic lens and said second electromagnetic lens being so arranged that the component of the magnetic field of the first electromagnetic lens lying along the optical axis and the component of the magnetic field of the second electromagnetic lens lying along the optical axis in a direction opposite the component of the magnetic field of the first electromagnetic lens, cancel out each other at the sample placement surface, wherein each of the first electromagnetic lens and the second electromagnetic lens has an inner polepiece (15, 25) and an outer polepiece (16, 26), the inner polepiece (15, 25) having a front end portion (15a, 25a), the outer polepiece (16, 26) having a front end portion (16a, 26a) that juts out toward the optical axis, wherein a distance between the front end portion (16a, 26a) of the outer polepiece (16, 26) and the sample placement surface is less than a distance between the front end portion (15a, 25a) of the inner polepiece (15, 25) and the sample placement surface, wherein the coil yoke of the magnetic field applicator is configured to cause a magnetic flux path to be formed passing through the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the first electromagnetic lens and through the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the second electromagnetic lens, and wherein the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the first electromagnetic lens and the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the second electromagnetic lens are demagnetized. a first electromagnetic lens and a second electromagnetic lens arranged along an optical axis and on opposite sides of a sample placement surface on which a sample is placed, the first and second electromagnetic lenses producing their respective magnetic fields having components lying along the optical axis; a magnetic field applicator comprising a first magnetic field applying coil, a second magnetic field applying coil, and a coil yoke mounted around both the first and second magnetic field applying coils (32a, 32b), wherein the first magnetic field applying coil is disposed outside a first excitation coil of the first electromagnetic lens and the second magnetic field applying coil is disposed outside a second excitation coil of the second electromagnetic lens; and said first electromagnetic lens and said second electromagnetic lens being so arranged that the component of the magnetic field of the first electromagnetic lens lying along the optical axis and the component of the magnetic field of the second electromagnetic lens lying along the optical axis in a direction opposite the component of the magnetic field of the first electromagnetic lens, cancel out each other at the sample placement surface, wherein each of the first electromagnetic lens and the second electromagnetic lens has an inner polepiece (15, 25) and an outer polepiece (16, 26), the inner polepiece (15, 25) having a front end portion (15a, 25a), the outer polepiece (16, 26) having a front end portion (16a, 26a) that juts out toward the optical axis, wherein a distance between the front end portion (16a, 26a) of the outer polepiece (16, 26) and the sample placement surface is less than a distance between the front end portion (15a, 25a) of the inner polepiece (15, 25) and the sample placement surface, wherein the coil yoke of the magnetic field applicator is configured to cause a magnetic flux path to be formed passing through the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the first electromagnetic lens and through the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the second electromagnetic lens, and wherein the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the first electromagnetic lens and the front end portion of the outer polepiece of the second electromagnetic lens are demagnetized.