Most people know Chaam from the famous annual cycling race the Acht van Chaam, the oldest cycling event in the Netherlands. But Chaam has much more to offer and has a rich history. The name Chaam is derived from the Celtic tribe "Cambo", which in itself argues for a prehistoric origin. "Cambo" settlements are usually located on the fertile alluvia of stream beds. Chaam's stream area has deposited a clayey soil there over the centuries, which is more fertile than the soil of surrounding villages. Abbeys, chivalric orders and the Lords of Breda also play an important role in Chaam's history. Initially, the abbeys of Thorn and Echternach exercised a number of rights within Chaam's territory.