It is a part of the municipality of Horst aan de Maas, and lies about 14 km north of Venlo.

The village was first mentioned in 1246 as Iohanne de Bruchusen, and means "houses near swampy land".

[3] Broekhuizen developed on the Maas in the Early Middle Ages.

German fallschirmjäger had taken possession of the castle and were attacked by the British Army.

[5] It was a separate municipality until 2001, when it was merged with Horst aan de Maas.