It is a part of the municipality of Tynaarlo, and lies about 15 km southeast of Groningen.

The village was first mentioned in 1285 as Growe, and means "dug canal" which refers to the Oostermoersche Vaart which is connected to the Zuidlaardermeer.

[3] The canal was dug by the monks of the Aduard Abbey to transport peat.

In 1934, an electric motor was installed, and the wind mill started to decay.

[6] A wooden building called "Post Hotel" was built in 1950 to intercept radio messages from the Warsaw Pact.