The town of Ter Apel was founded at a monastery, which from the 13th century was a chief work of the Premonstratensians and from 1465 an institution of the Order of the Holy Cross. The monastery was closed in 1594 due to the Protestant Reformation. In 1619 ownership of Westerwolde passed to the city of Groningen, with the monastery and its grounds included. Over time the city planted forests on these grounds.