At the end of the 19th century large pieces of the estate Berg en Bosch were bought by the Belgian merchant J.C. Wils (there is still a J.C Wilslaan in Apeldoorn). He had conifers planted, which were used for mining. After his death, the municipality of Apeldoorn bought the site. Part of it was used for the construction of a residential area; the other part remained available as a walking forest for city residents and tourists.

In the twenties of the 20th century the first initiatives for Park Berg & Bos were made. During the crisis years (1934) the large pond called Bosvijver was dug by hand by unemployed workers from the municipality as a procuring of employment project.