It is located in the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, and it lies in the Western Mine Region (Westelijke Mijnstreek in Dutch).

In the second half of the 12th century Munstergeleen was home to a Roman Catholic institution (called a proosdij in Dutch) that was commonly associated with a monastery.

[5] During the time that it was a separate municipality, Munstergeleen had its own flag consisting of two equally wide stripes of blue and red and a yellow hoist-triangle along the left-hand edge.

A white sword symbolizing Saint Pancratius is centered on the blue stripe, a white pair of pliers symbolizing Saint Apollonia is on the red stripe, and a black snakehead cross from the Sittard Coat of Arms is in the yellow hoist-triangle.

Roman Catholic masses are also performed in the Pater Karelkapel (Father Karel Chapel, i.e., Saint Charles of Mount Argus).

Residents of Munstergeleen work (for example) in chemical plants such as those operated by DSM and SABIC in Geleen, the Zuyderland Medical Center in Geleen, the NATO installation in Brunssum, the US Army installation[15] in Schinnen, and the NedCar auto manufacturing plant in Born.

[18] The large rooms in this facility are used frequently by community groups or are rented by individual Munstergeleen residents for activities, meetings and parties.

Munstergeleen was the birthplace of Olympic pole vaulter Rens Blom (1977-), as well as Saint Charles of Mount Argus (1821–1893).