Leiden American Pilgrim Museum — Attraction in Leiden

First, I must say: This museum is open!! Thursday-Saturday, 1pm-5pm. The Google hours are not correct. Check their website for special closures (e.g. Dec. 2, 2023) and holiday closures. Don't miss it!

This is a must-go museum. Both for those merely curious, and for those more well-versed in the subjects surrounding the "separatists"/"pilgrims". The substance of this museum will be the conversations you'll have and explanations you'll hear--so expect a social, philosophical experience. The value of getting to have an extremely well-informed conversation with a passionate expert, with many genuine historical items and books in the house to provoke thoughts, and to make use of and reference to during your conversation, is unmatchable. Whatever question you can think of, ask! Give your curiosity free reign. She'll either have an answer, or you'll have a great discussion.

Some items that stand out in memory from my visit (but there are many more): In the two houses (right next to each other) that comprise the museum you'll find a model of a ship closely approximating the Mayflower, whose details you can interrogate, a medieval tapestry for Easter contemplation, bullets and a bullet making tool, old accounting ledgers in actual handwriting, native american arrow heads, some wonderful old tomes (among them geographies, bibles), some with fantastic pictures, and plenty of furniture, drinking vessels, etc....

Fabulous small, private museum run by a local foundation. Definitely worth a visit to see and hear about the history of the house and pilgrims in Leiden.

Each visit is different depending upon visitors' interests and questions.

I encourage you to ask many questions of Jeremy, the historian/archivist who conducts the 'tours' in the original bottom story of the 14th century house and the one adjoining. The more you question the more wonderful is the visit! I've visited with friends 5 times over the past year in Leiden. Each visit is different - there is no "rote patter" like other places!

The foundation has saved the house and is collecting a marvellous array of artefacts and goods used in daily and religious life from the pilgrim era and earlier, even back to Romans with the most fabulous, compete, pot I've ever seen!

And these precious articles are available to see and, sometimes, to touch carefully in a small house sitting - not a 'fusty' or sterile museum cabinet.

I'm not religious, not American or connected to pilgrim history in any way, but am very interested in preserving history and cultural heritage. The Leiden Pilgrim Museum and efforts by the foundation are a lesson in independent cultural heritage management by citizens and people of goodwill. A...

The history of the Mayflower pilgrims and there time in Leiden is certainly very interesting. So I was eager to see this museum which turned out quite differently from what I expected: it is hard not to miss the entrance even with Google maps since there is only a small sign at the door. The elder gentleman who seems to run the museum seemed rather surprised that I wanted to see it. I entered the first room and paid the 9.50E ticket he started telling me slowly about the house: it seems the oldest preserved house in Leiden and it is not connected to the pilgrims who’s houses have all disappeared. When I asked him if I could see the other rooms he said there was only one other space in the neighboring house for which we had to go outside since at some point the door had been closed by bricks. So what you get is two small ancient rooms with no connection to the pilgrims with information about their history and books and household items from the period. The gentleman is certainly knowledgeable and you are likely to have everything to yourself. So it is very recommendable for enthusiasts. For normal visitors it might be disappointingly small and...