The American Pilgrim Museum
The Story of the Founders of New England In the Dutch City of Leiden
Pilgrim history in the United States is relatively familiar and at least one of their contributions to American society, the day of Thanksgiving, is remembered every year. But far less is known about the Pilgrims before they arrived in New England. The American Pilgrim Museum aims to change this by educating visitors on Pilgrim life in Leiden, Holland. Located in Leiden’s oldest house, built around 1370, the museum also provides a fascinating look at the history of this university city.
Occupying a space of just 54 square yards, the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum is small by any standards. In fact, it is more like a walk-in exhibit than a museum: none of the impressive number of furnishings from the 17th century, the period the Pilgrims lived in the city, nor the items that were owned by the Pilgrims themselves are stored away in glass cases. Rather, they are arranged around the house as they would have been 300 years ago and visitors are free to pick up bowls and books, sit in the chairs and open cupboards.
Who Were the Pilgrims?
The Pilgrims were originally a group of Calvinists who separated from the Church of England at the beginning of the 17th century because they felt it had not completed the work of the Reformation. Facing religious persecution, about 100 of them fled to Leiden in 1609. At that time, Leiden was a city that welcomed refugees and was thus tolerant to different religious beliefs. The Pilgrims settled in accommodation across Leiden and found employment, often as weavers. Eleven years later, in 1620, the political climate in Holland was no longer as friendly, however, and the congregation voted to emigrate to what they saw as the New World. This was the year the Pilgrims made their famous voyage across the Atlantic in the Mayflower.
The Pilgrims in Leiden
After extensive renovation, the building housing the museum was first opened to the public in 1997, by Dr. Jeremy Bangs, an American who has lived in Leiden for nearly 30 years. Trained as a cultural historian, Dr. Bangs first came into contact with the Pilgrims when he was put in charge of the Pilgrim exhibit at Leiden’s Town Archives from 1980-85. He then went on to work as Chief Curator of Plymouth Plantation Museum, an open-air museum in New England, and has been studying the Pilgrims ever since.
It seems there was a gap in the museum market: the tiny house has been receiving a steady stream of visitors ever since. Despite this growing interest, Dr. Bangs remains the primary guide of the property and can answer just about any question relating to the building, its past occupants – about whom a significant amount is known - its contents and, of course, its link to the Pilgrims.
The American Pilgrim Museum is located on Beschuitsteeg 9, Leiden and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance costs €3 (approximately $4). Dr. Bangs also gives guided tours of Leiden’s Pilgrim sights. More information can be found on the museum’s website.
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