The town is located on corridors of different transportation modes: The N34 (Zwolle - Emmen), the Zwolle - Emmen railway and the Almelo - de Haandrik canal.

It was first mentioned in 1227 as Bergene, and means "the hill of Gram (person)".

In 1227, the Battle of Ane was fought to the west of Gramsbergen during which the bishop of Utrecht was defeated by the citizens of Drenthe.

[5] In 1339, Huis Gramsbergen [nl], a havezate, was built which developed into a castle.

The castle was destroyed in 1674 by the Dutch States Army to prevent Münster from threatening Coevorden.