As early as 1597, records can be found in Steenhuffel"s archives detailing a manor named Den Hoorn.
The first signs of brewing activity at Steenhuffel come in 1747. A deed of consensus mentions two breweries, De Hoorn and De Valck. De Hoorn, owned then by Jean-Baptiste De Mesmaecker, will later develop into the brewery we know today.
In 1908, Henriette De Mesmaecker, great-granddaughter of Jean-Baptiste De Mesmaecker, marries Arthur Van Roy. Arthur Van Roy oversees the running of the their pub and farm, and will eventually become the driving force behind the construction of the brewery as we know it today.
1914, and World War I begins. Unfortunately, the De Hoorn brewery is not spared the violence of the war, and it is completely destroyed. However, Van Roy decides to rebuild it, bigger and better than before. He does so, but still chooses to top-ferment his beer in the old Brabant style rather than brew it using newer methods, such as those used to brew Pilsner.
In 1929, Van Roy decides to give his beer a proper name, calling it Speciale Palm. Speciale refers to the style of beer Special Belge.
1930, and Arthur Van Roy decides to teach his son, Alfred, how to brew beer. He is taught how to brew it just right, so that it is not only generous and tender, but full of taste and flavour as well. This, coupled with what Alfred learns at the Brussels brewing school, leads to the first copper brewing room with a mill being built. This brewing room is known simply as Brewing Room 1 today.