For centuries the province of Drenthe was a poor and rural area. Over the last 200 years vast areas of peat were extracted and the population grew quickly from 40.000 to almost 500.000 people now. The Balloërveld (also named Ballooërveld) is one of the rare areas that remained more or less untouched. The heathland of the nature is interspersed with peat moors, pine woods and some small sand drifts. It is also home of a sheep herd.

The Balloërveld, now managed by Staatsbosbeheer (a Dutch Forestry Commission), has an eventful history that even goes back to prehistoric times. The area originated in the Elster Ice Age. The Balloërveld also housed an important line of defence for the German occupiers in the World War II. The current nature area of 367 acres is part of National Park Drentse Aa.