Havixhorst is first mentioned in 1371. Until the 17th century, Havixhorst was owned by members of the Van den Clooster family. From the 15th century, the lords of Havixhorst owned the collation right in the church of IJhorst. The Van den Clooster family also owned the manors of Rheebruggen and Vledderinge. In 1580, the manor Batinge was also conquered by them, but had to be relinquished. In the 17th century, the Havixhorst passed to the Van Munster family. Due to financial problems, Reinold van Munster had to give up the Havixhorst in 1658 and exchanged his property with the Ibinge heir in Echten owned by Johan de Vos van Steenwijk. The De Vos van Steenwijk family owned the manor house for almost three hundred years, from 1658 to 1956. In 1956, Havixhorst passed on to two grandnieces, the ladies Van Mourik, who sold the Havixhorst in 1963, after which major repairs took place over the years and, for example, the coach house was completely rebuilt. During that period it was used alternately as a retirement home, a holiday resort for young people, a reception center for Vietnamese refugees, and was eventually used as a hotel. In 1982, the Havixhorst was purchased by Het Drentse Landschap and its renovations and restoration continued.