Tankers and cruise ships, cranes and containers: the port area begins with the enchanted island of Brienenennoord inland and extends over the entire city area as far as the dike at Maximaweg and the Noorder Pier: the place where the Nieuwe Maas then flows into the North Sea. The present port area has grown over the centuries. In economic terms, the Port of Rotterdam is an important employer and driving force of the city with over 87,000 employees and 45.6 billion euros in added value (as of 2018).