With an area of 3.1 square kilometers, it is one of the larger dug harbor basins in the world.

[1] The port additionally offers offshore power and energy solutions for vessels,[2] as well as a dedicated data center.

Part of it was also in use by the Dutch military's 3rd JaVA Fokker G.I squadron in 1940.

The factory and airport were destroyed in 1940 by the Dutch army so they could not get into the hands of the Germans.

After the Second World War, the city was in prospect of finding an airport, but the existing airfield at Waalhaven was written off the list because the damage that was caused to prevent the airfield's capture was so great it was considered not worth repairing.