The V&A Waterfront harbour was not always the bustling hub it is today. It began as a small jetty in built by Jan van Riebeeck in 1654, through a commission by the Dutch East India Company to establish a refreshment station at the foot of Africa. The station enabled ships that had spent many months at sea to stop for fresh water and supplies. This was the foundation of the V&A Waterfront, and played an important role in the founding of the city of Cape Town.