Oxymethylene copolymers having a high proportion of terminal alkyl ether groups and having terminal hydroxyalkylene groups are described. These polymers are distinguished by high thermal stability and high hot water resistance. Furthermore, a process for the preparation of oxymethylene copolymers is described in which the polymerization of at least one monomer forming —CH2—O— units is effected in the presence of at least one acetal of formaldehyde and of at least one initiator of cationic polymerization and the initiator of cationic polymerization is used in an amount of less than or equal to 10−4 mol %, based on the amount of the monomers present at the beginning of the polymerization and forming —CH2—O— units, in which starting materials of the polymerization are used such that the content of water and formic acid at the beginning of the polymerization is less than or equal to 40 ppm, and in which the initiator and/or the active polymer chains are deactivated by treatment of the prepared polymer with a base-containing protic solvent.