It is a part of the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul, and lies about 8 km east of Maastricht.

The village was first mentioned in 1096 as "apud Houlten", and means "settlement in a deciduous forest".

[3] Houthem is a village which developed in the Middle Ages in the valley of the Geul.

In 1201, a Premonstratensian monastery was founded near the grave of Saint Gerlach.

[4] The Catholic St Gerlachus Church used to be the main building of the nunnery.