The municipality is situated in wooded rolling moraine landscape, created during the last ice age, about 160,000 years ago.

(At that time the Mookerheide area extended all the way to the citywalls of Nijmegen) The historical Mookerheideschans (defense work) has been restored and offers a beautiful view over the Meuse valley.

In May 1940 the invaders were stopped by large bunkers on the Brabant-side of the Meuse, the railway bridge between Mook and Katwijk was blown up.

While under fire of German guns that were shooting from the woods near Groesbeek, allied soldiers had to secure the Heumen bridge over the Maas-Waal canal that was an important hub for operation Market Garden.

To support the cement industry, sand was dug out in the fields next to the river Maas (known as 'Cuyksesteeg') which consequently lead to the forming of the Mookerplassen recreational lakes, between Middelaar and the Mookerheide.