It is a part of the municipality of Noordoostpolder, and was created in 1950 as one of ten planned villages around the new city of Emmeloord.

The oldest castle was built by Prince-bishop of Utrecht in the 12th century, and was destroyed in 1196 by the Count of Holland.

In 1378, a castle was built closer to Kuinre, and demolished between 1531 and 1536, because it no longer served a strategic purpose.

[5] The village has been laid out on a triangular pattern, and is surrounded by a green circle.

The basketball team and football club SV Tonego is located in Luttelgeest.