The ruined walls of a medieval church in the centre of Leiden, notable as the last church the Pilgrim Fathers used before their departure for America in 1620. Only fragments of the outer walls remain, standing in a small park-like space surrounded by houses. The ruins are atmospheric rather than grand — a quiet reminder of Leiden's connection to one of the most consequential emigrations in history.
The nearby Pieterskerk, a few minutes' walk away, is the more prominent Pilgrim site (John Robinson, the Pilgrims' pastor, is buried there), but the Vrouwekerk is the more poignant one — reduced to fragments, easily overlooked, and carrying a story that stretches from medieval Leiden to modern Massachusetts. Free to see at any time; look for the ruins on Vrouwenkerkhof.