It is located in Zundert, North Brabant, near the border with Belgium.

The village was first mentioned in 1294 as "Gilberti de Achtmale", and is a combination of "reserved forest" and "court of justice".

Operation Pheasant (code-name "Suitcase"), aimed at clearing German troops from the province of North Brabant, started on the morning of Friday 20 October 1944 just after 7:00am.

On 27 October 1944 the 3rd Battalion of the 415th Infantry entered the village and Lieutenant Colonel Kelleher was handed papers by the Dutch resistance.

The Regiment sustained thirty-seven killed and 135 wounded during the operation.