A 15th-century church in Delfshaven where the Pilgrim Fathers held their final prayer service before boarding the Speedwell for their journey to the New World in 1620. The ship left from the quay just steps from the church door — you can stand in exactly the spot where a group of religious dissenters began a voyage that would shape American history.
The church (officially the Oude of Pelgrimsvaderskerk) is small and plain, in keeping with the Pilgrims' austere faith. The interior has been well preserved and includes a few exhibits about the Pilgrim connection. Delfshaven itself is one of the few parts of Rotterdam that survived the 1940 bombing, and its old harbour, drawbridges, and brick warehouses give a sense of what the whole city once looked like. The church is open to visitors on a limited schedule; check locally.