Officially the etymology is unknown, however the current Dutch words translates as "gleaming/sparkling".

[3] Glimmen is an esdorp which developed in the Early Middle Ages on the Hondsrug between Groningen and Assen.

[4] Huis te Glimmen is a manor house surrounded by a moat.

It probably received its current form in 1824, and a large park was added to the estate which was later named Quintusbos after the 1881 owner.

[4] In 1949, a Reformed Church was built, and Glimmen was awarded village status.

Many of the stones were missing, however a large collection of artefacts, flints and pottery was discovered.