It was first mentioned in 1383 as Heythusen, and means "houses on the heath". It was located on the road from Venlo to Antwerp,[3] and between the Bevelandse beek and the Tungelroyse beek.[4] In 1243, it became a border town for the County of Horne. In 1680, Heythuysen became an independent heerlijkheid.[3]
The Catholic St Nicolaas Church is a three-aisled church which was built shortly after 1504. In 1847, the current Gothic Revival tower was built. In 1927, the church was enlarged.[4]
Heythuysen was home to 275 people in 1840.[5] Until it became a part of Leudal on 1 January 2007, Heythuysen was a separate municipality, including the villages of Baexem, Grathem and Kelpen-Oler.[5] Heythuysen is home of the Grand Café Tom Tom.