A light emitting device comprises a substrate (61) and an arrangement of light emitting elements (62) provided over the substrate. The substrate has a contoured surface which defines at least first and second regions (60a, 60b, 60c), having normal directions which face in different directions. The light emitting elements (62) comprise directional light emitting elements, and are provided on the first and second regions (60b, 60c), thereby to define first and second light emission directions. This arrangement provides light source elements on a structured (topographically non-flat) substrate in a device, such that the angular distribution of light emitted by the device can be electronically adapted by controlling the light emission per light-emitting area.