The Voorste Luys mill is first mentioned in 1515. Petrus Luys was the first miller at this water mill, which remained in continuous operation until 1965. Initially, the Luysmolen was a fulling mill for processing (fulling) fibers from which cloth is made. From the 19th century, the mill was used as a grain mill. In 2000, the Flemish Land Company acquired the watermill and had the mill restored in milling condition. This included the construction of fish ladders so that fish can safely pass the mill. Since 2014, the municipality of Bocholt is the owner and the mill is part of the nature education center at nature reserve De Luysen and reception point of GrensPark Kempen~Broek.
The water mill is open every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and additionally during mill days. Near the mill is an information center of Kempen~Broek which is open from Tuesday to Sunday.