Primarily a green residential area with lakes, canals and parks, it was incorporated into the city of Rotterdam in 1941.

Hillegersberg was named after Hildegard van Vlaanderen, wife of Count Dirk II of Holland and West Friesland (920-988).

[1][2] Local flint finds here indicate pre-historic occupation and later discoveries of Roman pottery, medals as well as a bust of Emperor Hadrian show subsequent early activity in the area.

[6] The castle was first mentioned in a certificate of November 2, 1269 documenting a loan from Vranke Stozep van Hildegardsberg.

Remnants of the castle dungeon may still be found next to the Hillegondakerk in a corner of the cemetery, which dates from around 1500 in its present form.

[10] Hillergersberg's Bergse-plassen lakes were created by peat extraction in its surrounding fields and their subsequent flooding between CE 1600 and 1700.

[19] This is based on the number of expensive homes there, the quality of its amenities, and the luxury stores in its village centre.

[20] Hillegersberg has been described as a "leafy suburb (which) escaped wartime bombing, leaving its old village centre and elegant residential streets intact.

[17] Hillegersberg's amenities have increased over time, with the creation for example of the Lage Bergse Bos a recreational area of 216 hectare in 1970.

This villa was built in 1884 in the style of the neo-Renaissance by architect J.J. van Waning (1830-1917) and was commissioned by the De Kat family.

[46][45] H. Snellen-Balendong (1993) Gebouwd in de wijk: Monumenten en andere historische gebouwen in Hillgersberg - Schiebroek - Terbregge ISBN 90-70873-01-X