The northern boundary of the neighborhood is the Westzeedijk, to the east lies the Zalmhaven and Zalmstraat, to the south are the Willemskade, Westerkade, and Parkkade, and to the west is the Parkhaven.
The Veerhaven and the nearby monumental buildings around the Parklaan, dating back to around 1900, form the heart of the Scheepvaartkwartier.
The white, grand buildings on the Westerkade (originally Javastraat and Zeemansstraat), dating back to around 1865, are among the most beautiful in the neighborhood.
During the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940, the Scheepvaartkwartier remained largely untouched, with only the easternmost block of the neighborhood, adjacent to the Leuvehaven near the Willemsplein, being affected.
Due to the availability of intact housing, the Scheepvaartkwartier became the center of the German occupation forces in Rotterdam during the Second World War.
The current Natuurhistorisch Museum served as the Rotterdam base for the NSDAP, including the Hitler Youth.
To attract affluent residents back to the center of Rotterdam, luxury apartments were built near the entrance to the Erasmusbrug at the Willemsplein and Willemskade.