For 10 years, the village of Opeinde served as the principal village of municipality of Smallingerland. This came about due to the innovative ideas and hard work of the local people and the fact that the municipal government established its headquarters here.
The Opeindervaart canal, which in Frisian is known as the Peinder canal, played an important role in bringing economic prosperity to the area. The Opeindervaart or Peinder canal was built in 1882 to solve the water problem at Juffersgat. The canal runs from the village of Opeinde to De Leijen and is 1.7 kilometres long. At Opeinde, it continues as the Nieuwe Kanaal or Juffersgat canal. At Drachten, it flows through the port into the lake at De Leijen. The local people were quick to make use of the canal and the village became a hive of activity. The sand at Opeinde was used to build towns and villages. Opeinde became the principal village of the municipality of Smallingerland because the municipal government established its headquarters in the village. In 1823 the municipal headquarters were moved to Drachten.
