RHINE RIVER

Rhine River
Up the Rhine River to Rotterdam

Between Europe and the new world, however, lay a sea voyage filled with danger and uncertainty. This journey could only be accomplished by sailing ships and depending on the tailwinds could take up to three months. The season for passage usually began in early May and concluded in late October. The first part of their journey probably would have been up the Rhine River to the City of Rotterdam in Holland. From there, a sailing ship would have taken them to England where the vessel was docked in preparation of the coming trans-Atlantic journey to American. Sometimes the ship would sit in port for a number of weeks while cargo and provisions were loaded. When, at last the journey from England to America had begun, success was not always guaranteed. Amidst storms and calm, in all types of weather, these religious pilgrims sailed the open seas of the Atlantic Ocean, while hunger, thirst, disease, pirates and even death stalked them day and night. Only the strong survived, but they were willing to undertake these hardships for the sake of religious freedom. It was this faith which sustained them during this most perilous journey to the new world.