the brabanter has been bred in the netherlands, and particularly in brabant, for a long time. the oldest known image of one is in a painting of 1676 by the dutch artist melchior d'hondecoeter. they soon spread from their area of origin. black and cuckoo brabanters were shown at the first german poultry exhibition, at görlitz in saxony, in 1854. the brabanter became nearly extinct in the early 20th century, but was recovered by cross-breeding with other crested and bearded birds.