The village was first mentioned in 1480 or 1481 as "Brunesse ... noviter erecta", and is a combination of headland and mud.

[4] In 1452, Philip the Good gave permission to build dikes and polder the salt marshes.

Bruinisse is a front street village with half a ring road around the church.

[4] Bruinisse was severely damaged during World War II.

On 12 February 1944, the land around Bruinisse was inundated by the Germans and bombed by the Allies on 5 January 1945 causing the destroying of many houses including the church from 1467.