How do I attend the Thanksgiving service at Leiden's Pieterskerk in 2026?
Every Thanksgiving morning a non-denominational service is held in the Pieterskerk in Leiden, the church the Pilgrims knew before they sailed in 1620 and where their minister John Robinson is buried. In 2025 it was hosted by Overseas Americans Remember and began at 11:00; the 2026 time had not been published on October 20, and this year Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Leiden is about 46 km from Amsterdam, 47 minutes by car on a clear road, so leave by 09:45 for an 11:00 start.
Last updated:
With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Thanksgiving in Leiden from Amsterdam | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Thanksgiving in Leiden from Amsterdam | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Thanksgiving in Leiden from Amsterdam | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the day starts and ends in the same city. The driver waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
What the service is like
Hundreds gather in the church. Children dress as Pilgrims for a procession, local religious and political leaders speak, and representatives of the US Embassy in The Hague usually attend.
The day from Amsterdam
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 09:45 | Pickup in Amsterdam |
| About 10:35 | Leiden, near the Pieterskerk |
| 11:00 | Thanksgiving service (the 2025 time) |
| 12:30 | Lunch in the old town |
| 14:00 | Leiden American Pilgrim Museum opens |
| 15:30 | Drive back |
| 16:30 | Light Festival opening night in Amsterdam, lights on |
About 6 hours: €390 in Business Class, €480 in Van Class for up to 7, €600 in First Class.
Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
The museum is next to the Pieterskerk at Kloksteeg 16, with its entrance through Museumcafé Pieter. It is open Wednesday to Friday from 14:00 to 17:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. Admission is €7.50, card only.
By train
Trains run from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraal, and the Pieterskerk is in the old town, a walk from the station.
Related questions
Is it a religious service?
It is non-denominational and held for Americans in the Netherlands, with visitors from the US among them.
Do I need to register?
The 2026 details, including any registration, had not been published on October 20; check the Pieterskerk's events page before you travel.
Can we add Delfshaven to the day?
Yes. Delfshaven in Rotterdam is about 36 km from the Pieterskerk by road, so plan a longer day by the hour.
Sources
- DutchNews: Thanksgiving in the Netherlands (2025) (checked October 20, 2026)
- DutchNews: hundreds gather at the Pieterskerk (2024) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Pieterskerk: Pilgrim Museum (checked October 20, 2026)
- Pieterskerk Leiden, the Pilgrims in Leiden (1609 to 1620) and the annual Thanksgiving Day service on the fourth Thursday of November (checked September 29, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.