Nettetal was founded on January 1, 1970, when the former townships Leuth, Breyell, Hinsbeck and former towns/cities Lobberich and Kaldenkirchen were merged.

It shows a water lily before a blue blackground, symbolizing the predominance of nature and the variety of lakes.

Nettetal's six boroughs, with populations per its own census, as of December 2020:[3] Nettetal is located in the middle of the cross-border Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park, along the border with the Netherlands (the northwest edges of Kaldenkirchen and Leuth touch the border), approximately 20 km (12 mi) north-west of Mönchengladbach, Germany, and 10 km (6.2 mi) south-east of Venlo, Netherlands.

In addition to the river Nette, peat mining from the 16th to the 19th century has resulted in the formation of twelve lakes in the municipality.

The Nette, broad forest, heath areas and lakes make Nettetal a central resort in the Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park.