Opende

Opende is a village in the north-eastern Netherlands, in the province of Groningen. It is part of the municipality of Westerkwartier. It had a population of around 2,635 in 2023.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1457 as Upeynde, and means "upper end", which refers to the border between Groningen and Friesland. Opende is a road village which developed in the Middle Ages in the moorland.
The Reformed church dates from 1748 and replaces a 1648 church. The front was renovated in 1915, and it was enlarged in 1930.
Opende was home to 369 people in 1840.