Apelern is a municipality in the Samtgemeinde of Rodenberg in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It lies in the Deister-Süntel valley and is situated close to the A2 Autobahn at Lauenau and south of Rodenberg, between the Deister, Süntel and Bückeberg ridges. The Riesbach stream flows through the village and into the Rodenberger Aue (stream).