In 1147, the ministerial Rudolphus and his wife Emertrudis donated the allod Hoenbusc to the Marienstift Aachen. In 1226, Emperor Frederick II confirmed the foundation's ownership of Hoimbuch. In 1302, the Order of the Holy Cross founded a monastery in Hohenbusch. The clergy of the order were later called Knights of the Cross. In 1305, the dean and chapter of the Aachen foundation transferred Hohenbusch to the order in return for an annual interest of 4 Aachen guilders. In 1560, eight priests and eight lay people lived in the monastery.
In 1634, the Bishop of Roermond consecrated a new church, which was built parallel to the manor house. In 1677, a novitiate was established. In 1707, the order built the so-called central building in the courtyard and in 1716 the west wing was built. In 1720, the monastery completed the south wing.
In 1795, the monastery's main book lists the following as monastery property: 12 acres near Lövenich, 252 acres near Matzerath, 580 acres near Doveren, the Hetzerather Hof with 60 acres, 207 acres near Baal, 140 acres of forest near Hetzerath, a mill in Doveren, the tithes from Matzerath (480 acres) and from Beeck (220 acres). In 1798, 13 members of the order lived in the monastery.
On August 8, 1802, the French secularized the monastery and the monastery was abolished. At that time, there were still nine members of the order there, including the last prior, Conrad Ohoven. The church and two wings of the monastery buildings were demolished.
Between 1802 and 1983, the former monastery was used as an agricultural property. The name "Haus Hohenbusch" was also used at this time. In 1983, the city of Erkelenz bought Haus Hohenbusch and the associated farmland with around 70 hectares of arable land. In 1990, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Cultural Days were held. At the same time, the former monastery was presented to the general public for the first time.