The beginnings of the Donk house, for a long time a fief from the Electorate of Cologne, go back to the Middle Ages. It was first mentioned in a document in 1259. It was built as a permanent house for the border fortifications of the Kempen office against Jülich and Geldern on a donk on the Flöthbach. In 1310 a Gottfried von der Donk and his son Konrad are mentioned as owners. The first buildings of today's right half-timbered tower are said to have been built by the Franks around 900 AD on an artificially created hill, a motte. It served as a defensive structure in case of threats from enemies. The almost square tower, which shows typical Maasland stripes, was rebuilt in the 18th century. Daily life took place in the outer bailey, the farm in front of it, which was also secured with a moat that surrounds an extensive area, which can still be seen today. In the centuries that followed, further additions were made, including a Renaissance tower built around 1550. The brick building erected over a high buttress-reinforced stair tower now houses the so-called Knights' Hall on the first floor. The storey above, the roof, stepped gable and conical hat of the tower have been heavily restored.
The manor house visible today is only part of the old manor house, which was about three times larger and was located behind the current buildings. After being destroyed in the 19th century, Haus Donk was rebuilt in the 1970s and has been completely restored and modernized in recent years. It is privately owned and not open to the public (as of summer 2022).