Foundation Friends of the Pilgrimfathers' church
As a private individual and corporate sponsor, you contribute to safeguarding the building as a unique historical heritage with national and international significance for the future. The Old or Pilgrimfathers Church is related to the departure of the originally English Pilgrimfathers on July 20, 1620 with the Speedwell from Delfshaven to the promised land of America. With a stopover in England, Plymouth they switched from the leaky Speedwell to the Mayflower. After a heavy sea journey of more than 2 months, they landed in Massachusetts.
The departure of the Speedwell from Delfshaven in 1620 is depicted in a large painting (3.60 m. by 5.40 m.) called Embarkation of the Pilgrims, painted by Robert W. Weir for the US Congress. The artwork is an icon in American state history and has been hanging in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington D.C. since 1843. The Old or Pilgrimfathers Church in Historic Delfshaven is therefore inextricably linked to America. 'Democracy and Freedom' are a continuing pursuit for society - all over the world.
The exhibition Pilgrimfathers Presentation, renewed in 2020 in the Ankie Verbeek-Ohr room by the Friends Foundation, marks 400 years of Commemoration of the Pilgrimfathers. This has been appropriately commemorated in the US, the Netherlands and England. The opening of the exhibition planned in October 2020 by the US Ambassador together with the Mayor of Rotterdam had to be postponed due to the second corona wave. The postponed opening will still take place at a suitable time.
In 2021 it was 400 years of Thanksgiving Day. In this context, the Friends, in collaboration with Erasmus University, have organized an essay competition between the universities of Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam and Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. The Erasmus Trust Fund has sponsored the prize, 1 week student stay in the Netherlands/USA and vice versa. The theme of the essay competition was the spoken word 'The Hill we Climb' by Amanda Gorman, inauguration Joe Biden January 6, 2021. The future of society and the world is rooted in the past with its good and bad sides to learn!
Become a Friend
The Friends Foundation was established in 1994 in order to support the church in the broadest sense of the word. Preserving the church building as a monument and its development into the ecclesiastical and cultural centre of Delfshaven are its main aim. Support by preserving, maintaining and modernising the interior of the church, as well as assisting in acquiring fundraising partners are emphasised.
To continue our efforts we are very much indebted to our Friends for financial support. We would benefit greatly from gaining as many Friends as possible, not only because it means we can do more, but also because it enlarges, broadens and strengthens the support base for the church, so it can continue to be a hub of cultural activity in Delfshaven.
Therefore, please consider becoming a friend. In order to do so, send a message, preferably by e-mail, with your name, address and telephone number to the contact address below.
For the annual fee of € 30 (minimum) we will keep you informed of what is happening in the church and the foundation.
The Friends of the Old or Pilgrimfathers Church Foundation has an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status in The Netherlands. For individuals and companies, the ANBI status of the Friends of the Old or Pilgrimfathers Church Foundation is beneficial (only if tax is paid in The Netherlands): donors may deduct their donations from income or corporate income tax (for the most up-to-date information on this, please refer to the Tax and Customs Administration). The amount of your donation is of your own choice. Every year there is a joint meeting in the church. For companies there are various possibilities for contributions with associated exclusive benefits. Businesswise, the intended relationship between the Netherlands and the US may also be of interest to you.
Specifically for U.S. taxpayers, the Netherlands America Foundation (NAF) has established a legal structure to facilitate tax-efficient cooperation in fundraising for the Old or Pilgrimfathers' Church. The Friends Fund of the NAF gives U.S. donors the advantage of a U.S. income and gift tax deduction for their gifts. This means your contributions will be tax-deductible for the purpose of U.S. federal and state taxes, to the extent permitted by federal and state law. To donate to the Old or Pilgrimfathers' Church using the Friends Fund Program of the NAF, click here.
Contact data
Stichting Vrienden van de Oude of Pelgrimvaderskerk (Foundation of Friends)
c/o P. O. Box 54562
3008 KB Rotterdam
E-mail: vrndpelgrimvaderskerk@gmail.com
ANBI-Data (Public benefit organisation)
Name: Stichting Vrienden Van De Oude Of Pelgrimvaderskerk
Established 23 August 1994; ANBI-Foundation since 2008
Fiscal Number: 8032.80.968
Board
S.B. de Vries, chair
M.Y. van Schijndel, secretary
E.J.H. Bouwens, treasurer
Policy
Remuneration of the Board: This is a voluntary organisation, the board is not paid in any way.
Objective: The foundation’s main objective is to support the Pilgrimfathers’ Church of Rotterdam-Delfshaven in the broadest sense of the word.
Activities carried out in 2024 by the Friends of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation
The board of the Friends of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation met four times in 2024. In addition, two board members of the Friends Foundation sit on the board of the Foundation for Management and Exploitation of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers' Church. Within this Foundation, the board met in many meetings in 2024, due to the lingering corona impact and the high energy costs on the exploitation results.
In 2023, the board of the Friends of the Old or Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation set up a new website. This website focused mainly on the rental possibilities of the church with the aim to increase revenues for the benefit of a balanced operation. In 2024, in consultation with the HGD, it was decided to merge this new website and the existing website https://www.oudeofpelgrimvaderskerk.nl . To make this possible, the board has been busy rewriting texts and sharing information between both websites. A new booking system for the rental of rooms was also developed. The completely new website https://www.oudeofpelgrimvaderskerk.nl became operational by the end of 2024.
In May 2023, the board contacted the Netherland-America Foundation (NAF) for possible further cooperation. The Netherland-America Foundation supports bilateral relations between the United States of America and the Netherlands. The aim of the Foundation is to support exchange programs between the two countries in the fields of education, cabaret, science, etc.
The NAF was founded in 1921. One of the founders is Franklin D. Roosevelt, later president of the United States. The patroness and patron from The Netherlands are two members of the Royal Family, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven. They always participate in the annual gala party of the NAF in New York. Through the Friends Fund of the NAF, it is possible for American citizens to donate to a number of Dutch ANBI organisations. An ANBI is a Public Benefit Institution. An institution can only be an ANBI if it is almost entirely committed to the public interest. The Friends of the Old Pilgrim Fathers Church Foundation is an ANBI organisation. At the beginning of 2024, the board of the Friends Foundation signed the agreement with the NAF and we now participate in their Friends Fund.
In January and February 2024, the board has been busy writing 'our' webpage on the NAF site so potential donors can read more about the Friends Foundation. If you would like to read our webpage or take a look at the approximately 40 organisations that also participate in the Friends Fund of the NAF, see https://thenaf.org/friends-funds/.
In 2024, the board has been working on setting up a lecture series in 2025 and 2026 in 'our' church in the run-up to the fact that on July 4, 2026, it will be 250 years since the United States declared its independence from England. There has been a meeting at the Embassy of the United States in which the promise has been made that people from the Embassy will be present at the opening of the lecture series.
Thanks to a financial contribution by the Friends Foundation, the traditional ‘candle evening’ could be organized by the Reformed Congregation of Delfshaven on December 15, 2024. While enjoying hot chocolate and Christmas wreath, everyone could listen to a Christmas concert.
As usual, all donors of the Friends Foundation were invited to the annual Friends Concert in the church, namely a presentation concert of the Delfshaven organ books. Also in 2024, the annual Newsletter was sent to all donors of the Friends Foundation.
