It is a part of the municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee, and lies about 17 km south of Spijkenisse.

The village was first mentioned in 1554 as Oitkensplate, and means "shoal of Oltken (person)".

[3] Ooltgensplaat developed after the Het Oudeland polder was created between 1481 and 1483.

Ooltgensplaats became strategically important during the Eighty Years' War because it controlled the access to the Volkerak.

[4] The company went bankrupt in 2014, and in 2018, the fort and surrounding area was bought by the municipality.