Texel is the largest and most diverse island in the Wadden Sea, located in the northern part of the Netherlands. If you visit our country, make a day trip or spend a few days on the beautiful island of Texel. This Island known for its wide sandy beaches, unique natural landscapes, and charming villages. Texel offers a perfect mix of nature, culture, and outdoor activities.
Where is Texel located?
Texel is situated in the Wadden Sea, just off the northern coast of the Netherlands. Let me introduce you to the beautiful and unique five Dutch Wadden Sea Islands: Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog. Texel is the largest of the Frisian Islands and is an easy destination by train when traveling, for instance, from Amsterdam.
What to know about the Wadden Sea?
The Wadden Sea stretches out along the coasts of 3 countries: The Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. In 2009, the Dutch and German parts, and in 2014, the Danish coast, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of the unique ecosystem that creates an extraordinary tidal landscape.
The Wadden Seacoast has a total length of 500 km. The sea is about 10.000 km2 large. This Sea stretches from the north of Holland to the north of Denmark. In the Netherlands, about a hundred years ago, the Wadden Sea was connected to the Zuider Sea, a inner Sea in the center of Holland. This Sea, though, was closed by a 33 km-long dike.
Top Things to do on Texel
Explore Texel National Park Dunes of Texel.
The Dunes of Texel National Park cover a large part of the island and are home to unique flora and fauna. This protected area is ideal for walking, cycling, and birdwatching, especially during migration seasons.
Enjoy the Beaches of Texel
Texel is famous for its wide, clean North Sea beaches, which are perfect for swimming, walking, and water sports. The beaches are less crowded than those on the mainland, offering space and tranquility.
Visit the Villages of Texel
Each village on Texel has its own character. Den Burg, the largest town, offers shops, restaurants, and local markets. De Koog is popular for beach access, while smaller villages such as Oudeschild reflect Texel’s maritime heritage.
Discover Texel’s Wildlife
Texel is one of the best places in the Netherlands to experience wildlife. Seals can often be spotted along the coast, and the island is internationally known as a birdwatching destination.
Cycling and Outdoor Activities
Texel is exceptionally well-suited for outdoor activities. A network of well-maintained cycling paths connects beaches, villages, and nature areas. Cycling is one of the best ways to explore the island at a relaxed pace.
Popular activities include:
-
-
Cycling around the island
-
-
-
Hiking by bike or by horse through dunes and forests
-
-
-
Watersports such as kitesurfing and sailing
-
Enjoy Local Food
Texel is known for its regional products, including Texel lamb, local cheeses, and craft beers. Many restaurants focus on fresh, local ingredients, reflecting the island’s strong connection to nature and agriculture.
Explore the coast along the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Texel plays an important role in this unique ecosystem. Guided mudflat walking tours, boat excursions, and nature excursions offer insight into this extraordinary tidal landscape.
The best way to get to Texel is by public transport
- Train: Take the train to Den Helder. Trains depart regularly from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Den Helder. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Ferry: When you arrive in Den Helder, take the ferry to Texel. The ferry terminal is located near the train station. Ferries depart frequently, usually every hour, and the crossing takes less than 30 minutes.
- Texel: Upon arrival in Texel, explore the island by various means such as renting a bike, taking a bus, or driving a car if you have one.
Check the schedules for the trains and the ferries in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak seasons, to ensure smooth transit.
Guided tour on Texel
Discover a day full of adventure on the breathtaking Texel, surrounded by the unique UNESCO World Heritage of the Wadden Sea. Step aboard the ferry and be carried away to this island full of natural wonders. Explore the vast National Parks, picturesque villages, and endless beaches, and experience the peace and beauty of this special part of the Netherlands.
➔ READ MORE – Book a special tour with a small group and see everything there’s to see of Texels
Texel lighthouse
The lighthouse on Texel is a beautiful red structure located on the north side of the island. You can visit the lighthouse almost every day to learn about its remarkable history. Climbing to the top of the tower requires ascending 158 steps, where you can enjoy a stunning view of the North Sea, the Wadden Sea, and nearby islands. The new lighthouse was built over the old light tower. So you will discover a tower in a tower.
Guided excursions through the Natural Park
Texel is a national park that boasts unique flora and fauna, showcasing a diverse range of natural beauty. Visitors can join guided excursions throughout the park to explore its wonders. Be sure to visit Ecomare, the information center dedicated to the Wadden Sea and the North Sea, located in De Koog within the Texel National Park. The visitor center provides extensive information about the nature and culture of Texel, and it features a sea aquarium and a museum.
Seal Shelter Ecomare
Ecomare is famous for providing shelter to sick seals. You can visit this seal shelter and even book a boat trip to observe seals and learn about their lives in the Wadden Sea and the North Sea. Once the seals have recovered and are healthy again, they are released into the North or Wadden Sea.
Local life and specialties of Texel
Den Burg is the largest village in the center of the island. Here you find nice shops, restaurants, and good hotels. You do not want to miss the market on Monday. All year long, there are musical, cultural, and culinary festivities. A lot of houses and farms in and around Den Burg are monuments. The Cheese farm Wezenspyk is not to be missed on your trip. Here you can see how Texel cheese is made of cows’ or goat milk, and of course, you can taste it too.
Texel Special beer “Skuumkoppe”
The specialty beer from Texel “Skuumkoppe” is traditionally brewed by locals in a former dairy factory in the Texel village of Oudeschild. Texel residents are very proud of this delicious beer and with a good reason as I may say. Texels Skuumkoppe is a draft beer and a bottled beer, in different flavors, colors, and strengths. When I went to Texel I booked a visit to the tasting of the Texels Skuumkoppe brewery. In addition to a tasting of various Texel beers, a film about Texel and the brewery will be shown.
Nature reserve de Hoge Berg
The high mountain nature reserve is located on the north side of the island and as the name suggests you have a beautiful view over the island and the sea. The mountain protrudes 15 meters above sea level, which is high by Dutch standards. Why is it a nature park, what makes this area special? The mountain was created by clay impoundment during the Ice Age, about 150,000 years ago.
Hotspot for bird watchers
I am a bird lover, I like their singing and like to know what birds are called. The island of Texel is great for bird watchers because there are almost 400 bird species on Texel. If you cycle along the dunes you will come across several bird lookouts. And if you really want to delve into birds, you can book a birding excursion.
The villages of Texel
Texel consists of several villages and hamlets that together create the charm of the island. Here is more information about the villages and their sizes.
- Den Burg: The biggest village on the island, and almost half of the residents of Texel live in this village. Want to have a good start on the island? Visit this village!
- De Koog: Ecomare is located near this village. On the North Sea side, you find ample beaches. From the village, you walk straight to the beach. In the village, you find nice restaurants, and shops and De Koog is a hotspot to enjoy the nightlife. After a lazy day on the beach, you can dance all night long.
- Cocksdorp: The youngest village on the north side of the island. Originally it was located on salt marsh ground. After more land was reclaimed from the sea the new village was built near the slufter: a mud land that is ideal for birdwatching and a stunning midsummer sunrise.
- Den Hoorn: In the south of the island is surrounded by woods and beaches, near the National Park Duinen of Texel.
- Oosterend: You find the village on the Wadden Sea side of the island. Some say it is the most beautiful village on the island of Texel. With narrow historical streets and monumental architecture.
- Oudeschild: In Oudeschild you can visit the Juttersmuseum. In this museum, there is a collection of items that were found on the beaches of Texel.
The best place to have dinner on Texel
Topido is a small special restaurant with an outstanding menu. They serve the best seasonal dishes made with local products. You can choose fish, lamb, beef, shrimp from the Wadden Sea, Oysters, mushrooms, local vegetables, quiche with Texels cheese, and Texels beverage. It s a great joy to have dinner at this place. Reservation is needed.
Explore the island Texel on a bike or e-scooter
What we recommend is to experience Texel Island like a Dutch by renting an e-scooter. On the island, you can rent high-quality bicycles such as ATB, mountain bikes, and electric bikes and scooters. Explore the dunes, enjoy the seaside, observe the birds on sandbanks, admire the different landscapes, and visit the charming villages. Texel is a beautiful island, and you won’t regret a moment of your stay. Texel is a very popular destination for the Dutch, not only for holidays but also for enjoyable weekend or day trips.
➔ READ MORE – Book your e-shopper and make a great tour around the Texel Island by Getyourguide
Dutch Words Compared to English Words
Duinen – Dunes
Strand – Beach
Vogel – Bird
Fiets – Bicycle
Restaurant – Restaurant
Bier – Beer
Dorp – Village
Kaas – Cheese
Schaap – Sheep
Kerk – Church
Boswachter – Ranger
Comment
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent info being shared freely out there.