Haelen (Dutch: [ˈɦaːlə(n)] ⓘ; Limburgish: Hale) is a town in the south-eastern Netherlands.

The village was first mentioned in 1224 as "Gregorio (de) Haele", and means "bend of the highland".

It used to belong to the County of Horne, and later became part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

In 1977, a museum was housed in the castle, and it has become private property since 1996.

Until it became a part of Leudal on 1 January 2007 Haelen was a separate municipality, and included the villages of Buggenum, Horn, and Nunhem.