Opper (upper) could have been added to distinguish from Nederdoes, a village lost in the Zuiderzee.

In 1517 the old church of Opperdoes and many buildings were destroyed by Grote Pier and his Frisian army, the Gelderse Friezen.

Opperdoes is considered an orthodox village in a fairly liberal minded area.

He called the Reformed Church a godless temple and preached a very sober lifestyle.

Although he never had a large crowd of followers, it is generally assumed that a part of the village's orthodoxy can be explained by his preachings.