The Huffelen forest area was part of the former Abtsheide, located in the north of Beerse and approximately 900 hectares in size. In 1311, Jan II, Duke of Brabant, donated the area to the Sint-Michielsabdij in Antwerp.
At that time, it was a vast plain with inland dunes, fens and marshes. In 1532, the municipality of Beerse was granted the right to use it, of course in return for a fee to the abbey. In 1666, Beerse then bought the Abstheide. Residents were allowed to graze their sheep, mow the heath, cut peat and dredge bogs, among other things. In 1772, Empress Maria-Theresia decided that the municipality had to develop the wastelands or sell them for development. And in the nineteenth century, the municipality sold them for development.
In 1865, the Dessel-Schoten canal was dug and several brick factories were established along that canal. And near those factories, clay pits were dug again. In 1974, the municipality bought those old clay pits again. And residents are allowed to fish there. In addition, there is now nature management, although nature is also allowed to take its course. Follow the route because there is a point where you cannot go through because two pools meet.