The Keilewerf began in 2014 as a vacant 3,180 m² warehouse at Vierhavenstraat 56 and grew into a vibrant hub for creative makers and entrepreneurs. In 2016, a second location opened at Keilestraat 5a, once again providing workspace for dozens of entrepreneurs. Although Keilewerf 1 was lost to a fire in 2023, the energy and community of the Keilewerf continue to live on.

Within the Keilewerf, artists, furniture makers, musicians, designers, and photographers build their own studios and workshops. This makes the Keilewerf a unique place where experimentation, craftsmanship, and collaboration come together.

The Keilewerf is an initiative by PlaceBased, a Rotterdam-based organization committed to a creative, livable, and affordable city. By giving vacant buildings a new purpose and providing space for creative entrepreneurs, PlaceBased creates environments where makers can grow and where new connections emerge between the city, the neighborhood, and the community.