Why the Pilgrims Left the Netherlands

The Pilgrims, though tolerated in Leiden (1609), were unhappy due to:

• Religious freedom limits: Dutch society too liberal/worldly; they wanted complete worship autonomy.
• Economic hardship: High competition for skilled/farm labor; difficulty sustaining families.
• Cultural alienation: Language, customs, norms unfamiliar; poor assimilation.
• Sense of mission: Felt called to build a "new world" aligned with their principles.