The first edition was held at the end of the cyclocross season of 1999-2000, when Adrie van der Poel retired from professional cyclocross racing. This was his last race, organised to honour him in his home village. The race was such a success, that it became a yearly venue. In 2003 the race became part of the UCI World Cup.
Van der Poel himself spotted the site in 1999 during a walk along the Scheldeweg. With a meadow, small woodland, lower fields and the steep incline of the Brabantse Wal (wall of Brabant), it was a great spot for a cyclo-cross with the capacity to host a large crowd. Adrie van der Poel designed the first parcours and still tweeks it to improve it every year.[1][2]
^Ad Pertijs (2014-01-30). "Spelen met de Brabantse Wal, WK Veldrijden Hoogerheide". Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (in Dutch) – via Krantenbank Zeeland. on page 32 (Playing with the wall of Brabant, World Championships Cyclo-cross Hoogerheide)
