Opijnen
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{use British English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Opijnen
| settlement_type = Village
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = nl
| image_skyline = File:Opijnen Waaldijk 16.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Pub in Opijnen
| image_flag =
| image_shield =
| nickname =
| motto =
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Gelderland#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Gelderland
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = West Betuwe
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_party =
| coordinates = {{coord|51|49|40|N|5|17|54|E|region:NL_type:city(1057)|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 4
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_total_km2 = 3.68
| established_title =
| established_date =
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=24 March 2022}}
| population_total = 1,195
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| area_code = 0418
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Opijnen is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of West Betuwe, and lies about 10 km southwest of Tiel.
Opijnen was a separate municipality until 1818, when it changed its name to Est en Opijnen.{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}
History
It was first mentioned in 1265 as Opynen, and means upstream as compared to Neerijnen.{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/opijnen |title=Opijnen - (geografische naam) |website=Etymolgiebank |access-date=24 March 2022 |language=nl}} The village developed parallel to the Waal as a stretched out esdorp. In 1265, Opijnen became the property of Raoul de Châtillon, a French nobleman who had fled to Gelre after a dispute with the King of France. A castle was built near the village, however it disappeared in the 16th century. The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1860 and the tower dates from 1925.{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu05_01/sten009monu05_01_0168.php |title=Opijnen |author=Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven |year=2000 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90-400-9406-3 |language=nl |access-date=24 March 2022}} In 1840, Opijnen was home to 333 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/opijnen |title=Opijnen |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=24 March 2022 |language=nl}}
Opijnen is home to the graves of eight American airmen who were shot down on 30 July 1943, and killed while returning to England from a bombing raid over Kassel, Germany. The village honoured the airmen by burying them in their cemetery. From that time and for seventy-five years afterwards, the village honoured these men annually with a formal church service and then a laying of flowers on the graves. In 2006, the village opened a housing complex with eighty-six units. The airmen were further honoured by having the streets in that housing complex named after them.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2018/11/09/feature/a-downed-world-war-ii-plane-a-dutch-village-and-the-art-of-remembering/ Washington Post Magazine November 11, 2018]
Gallery
File:N-H kerk Opijnen.jpg|Dutch Reformed Church
File:Waalbridges near Zaltbommel, an old railwaybridge and the new cable stayed motorwaybridge - panoramio.jpg|Bridges over the Waal
File:Opijnen GM Waaldijk 20.jpg|Dike house
File:Opijnen GM Repensestraat 7.jpg|House in Opijnen
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Dutch municipality West Betuwe}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places in Gelderland