"[2] Opzij was founded as a radical feminist magazine in November 1972[3][4] by Wim Hora Adema (1914–1998) and Hedy d'Ancona (1937).

Former editors were Cisca Dresselhuys, who retired in 2008, and Margriet van der Linden.

[7] For many years, Opzij was a yardstick to measure Dutch women's attitudes; for instance, a 2002 study investigated Dutch women's opinions on relationships and sexuality based largely on empirical evidence of the changes Opzij and its readership have experienced since its founding.

NRC Handelsblad reported Opzij's circulation as 44,000 copies in May 2014, down about 50% over the previous decade.

[11] Notable winners include Nahed Selim (2006), Elsbeth Boor and the Clara Wichmann Institute (2005), Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2004), Hedy d'Ancona (1992), and Ellen 't Hoen (1989).