It is a part of the municipality of West Maas en Waal, and lies about 9 km northeast of Oss.

[3] It was first mentioned in 1139 as de Apeltre, and means "settlement near apple trees".

The tower of Dutch Reformed Church is from the 12th century.

Huis Appeltern was a manor house built in the late-17th century.

It was decommissioned in 1969 when it was replaced by the Diesel powered Bloemers pumping station.