It is a part of the municipality of Koggenland, and lies about 4 km east of Heerhugowaard.

The village was first mentioned around 1312 as Hensbroec, and means "swampy land belonging to Hen (person)".

[3] Hensbroek developed in the Late Middle Ages after a peat excavation settlement to the west had been abandoned.

[6] The municipal coat of arms(nl) (introduced 1817) is canting, representing a folk etymology of the name amounting to an interpretation of "hen's breeches".

The actual etymology of the broek element is "brook", not "breeches", but its interpretation as "breeches" has a precedent in classical heraldry in the coat of arms of Abbenbroek as shown in the Beyeren Armorial (c. 1405, fol.