At the outskirts of the town there is an ice cream factory from Unilever, where Ben & Jerry's is produced for the European market.

The highest point lies at about 70 metres (230 ft) above sea level and is part of the Noetselerberg.

The Germans operated a V-2 launching platform near the town of Hellendoorn during World War II, harassing the city of Antwerp.

[5] On March, 22nd 1945, Nijverdal was severely bombed by allied bombers who were targeting the German Reichskommissar of Austrian origin Arthur Seyss-Inquart.

Seyss-Inquart was fleeing the advancing Allied forces and had set up his temporary headquarters in the Reformed School in Nijverdal, but had already left town at the time of the bombing.