It is located in a countryside area with dairy farms that is surrounded by various urban concentrations, namely the city of Rotterdam, the municipality of Westland (area with intensive greenhouse horticulture activities), and the towns of Vlaardingen and Maassluis.

The first signs of a community at the current location of the village started back in 985 when the area was given by the Emperor Otto III to Graaf Dirk II and a church was built.

After severe floodings during the 12th century, the Maasdijk was rebuilt and the village centre relocated to its current site.

In 1241 Graaf Willem II let the German Teutonic Knights draw on the territory of Maasland.

It took a couple of years before the villagewas rebuilt and in 1614 part of the village Maasland (which included the Maeslandsluys) gained independency and is known as the town Maassluis.