Kolham was originally a road village on a sandy ridge.

[3] Kolham was a separate parish, but belonged to the heerlijkheid of Slochteren until 1794.

[6] On 29 May 1959, the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij [nl] was performing a test drill on the land of farmer Kornelis Boon.

At a depth of 2,659 metres (8,724 ft) the drill hit gas, and a large flame appeared which could be seen in the city of Groningen.

Boon was paid for the drill and a parcel of his land, however the gas benefits went to the State of the Netherlands.