Photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo credit
Photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Delfshaven and the Pilgrim Fathers
Your local guide
Daan Verhoeven
View profile
Highlights
- The harbour the Pilgrims sailed from in 1620
- Memorial windows inside the Pilgrim Fathers Church
- Old warehouses along the Delfshaven harbour
- The last working windmill in central Rotterdam
- Piet Heyn's birthplace and his silver fleet
About this tour
This session walks Delfshaven, the small harbour district the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from in 1620, taking in their church, the old warehouses and the last working windmill in central Rotterdam. The guide also tells the story of Piet Heyn, the admiral born in this same neighbourhood. It is a quieter, older corner of the city most visitors never reach.
The call opens with a sound check, then follows the four stops along the harbour at a relaxed pace, with time for questions about the Pilgrims or the windmill. A short list of names and dates is sent once the walk finishes.
This suits anyone interested in the Pilgrim Fathers' story or Dutch maritime history, whether or not a visit to Rotterdam is planned. It also suits anyone who prefers a quiet neighbourhood over a busy centre.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 10 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Rotterdam before heading out.
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Delfshaven harbour 21 min
The camera looks out over the small harbour the Pilgrims left from in 1620, and the guide explains why they sailed from here rather than a larger Dutch port.
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Pilgrim Fathers Church 21 min
Outside the Pilgrim Fathers Church, the guide points out its memorial windows and describes the congregation's short stay in Delfshaven before they continued on to England and then America.
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Warehouses and the windmill 21 min
Walking past the old warehouses, the camera reaches the last working windmill left in Rotterdam's city centre, and the guide explains how the harbour once depended on buildings like these.
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Piet Heyn's birthplace 21 min
The walk finishes near the house where Piet Heyn was born, and the guide tells the story of his silver fleet before pointing out the Stadsbrouwerij on the corner, where the smell of brewing often drifts into the street.
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Your questions 18 min
Time to ask anything about Rotterdam: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 8 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Bitterballen and Witte de With, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Amsterdam time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Rotterdam, showing you Erasmusbrug and Euromast live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Rotterdam live with my phone and you ask anything as we go.
Times shown in Amsterdam time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Fri 30 Oct · 12 seats left From 19,00 €
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