[citation needed] During the reign of Louis the Pious (814–840), monks from the Abbey of Corbie in France came to this part of Germany and founded a daughter house at Hethis in the Solling.

It was later abandoned due to lack of access to water, and a new monastery, Corbeia nova (Corvey Abbey), opened close to the river.

[citation needed] As Holzminden was granted municipal liberties, allowing greater privileges to its inhabitants and attracting new settlers from the surrounding hinterland, other villages were subsequently abandoned.

In the late 19th century, chemist Dr. Wilhelm Haarmann began making developments in the local scent and flavours industry, and succeeded in synthesising vanillin from coniferyl alcohol alongside Ferdinand Tiemann in 1874.

[citation needed] The Stiebel Eltron company, which produces heating and hot water products, has its headquarters in Holzminden.

Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly, commander of the Imperial forces during the Thirty Years' War, is said to have spent a night here.