If you’re looking for a destination in the Netherlands that feels completely different from the mainland, Texel is for you. Part of the Dutch Wadden Islands, Texel combines wide sandy beaches, wildlife, charming villages, and a laidback island atmosphere – all just a short ferry ride away.
A True Island Escape – in Just a 20 Minute Ferry Ride
One of the things that makes Texel special is how quickly it feels like a getaway. The tourist website for Texel states “Your Texel holiday already begins on the ferry” and I couldn’t agree more. The ferry to Texel only takes about 20 minutes from Den Helder, but it’s enough time to make you feel like you have started your break.
Ferries operate every half hour or hour depending on the day and season. You can buy your ferry ticket on line but note that you cannot reserve your spot on a ferry – and at peak times there can be a considerable wait for the boat!
For a full timetable see the TESO boat service site.
Sheep, Space and Serenity
Although Texel is the largest of the Dutch Wadden Islands, you can drive the length and breadth of the island in no time. Texel is 25km long and 8km wide. In some parts you will notice that there really is nothing but farm land and scattered houses. Heerlijk if you are looking for rust!!
Did you know? You pronounce Texel as ‘Tessel‘ and not with a hard x
In the springtime there are actually more sheep  and lambs on Texel than there are people living there, so you are more likely to hear ‘ BAAAAA’ than anything else. In fact, spring is magical on Texel and you’ll find a sense of calm here that’s hard to find elsewhere in the Netherlands.
The Best Way to Explore Texel
There are many ways to explore Texel and while you can of course drive around Texel, the best way to experience it is by bike. Take your own, or hire a bike on the island. Cycling is great as there are (as is the case across the Netherlands) 140kms of dedicated cycle paths across the island and it is flat (though, being an island, it does get breezy – my tip is rent an e-bike on days when you have wind tegen). It’s also worth bearing in mind that you can get to places with a bike that you can’t get to with a car, so if exploring is what you have in mind cycling is a great option.
That said you can also explore Texel on foot, by horse, with a Segway, by tuk tuk, horse drawn carriage, or by boat.
Beaches You Don’t Expect in the Netherlands
Texel boasts 30 km of coastline so there’s always a beach to lay your towel down on. But you can of course choose to take a stroll, fly a kite, participate in water sports or go swimming.
From what we saw at the northerly tip of Texel (near De Cocksdorp) the beach is gorgeous – wide and sandy. From the beach you can see one of the many oil rigs out in the North Sea, as well as the next island in the Wadden chain of islands off the Dutch coast.
Wildlife, Excursions and Unique Experiences
If relaxation is not your thing, then Texel has something up its sleeve for you too. It’s a fabulous place for nature experiences:
- Take a hike through the national park dunes
- Seal spotting
- Birdwatching
- Ecomare, a nature museum and a seal sanctuary
- Mudflat walking
- Make a parachute jump
- Take a scenic flight
The Wadden Sea is abundant with nature and life – sea birds, seals, fish and little critters on the bottom of the sea, which are evident at low tide and what makes wadlopen so popular. In short, its location makes Texel an absolute wildlife treasure.
If a museum is more your thing. Texel has plenty of these too:
- Maritime museum Kaap Skil
- Museum van Jutters & Zeelui
- Shipwreck and Beachcombing Museum Flora in Den Burg
- Luchtvaart- En Oorlogsmuseum (aviation and war museum) in Cocksdorp
- Museum Waelstee (cultural museum in De Waal).
There are also art galleries to visit, as well as a lighthouse, a brewery, quaint villages and churches and Texel Zoo.
Tip for those of you with young children: Whilst we were on Texel we visited a dairy farm and got up close and personal with the cows. You can also get cuddly with the little lambs.
Where to Stay on Texel
Texel offers just about any type of holiday accommodation you can imagine:
- Private rentals
- Holiday parks
- Camp sites and yurts (Camping De Krim is an ANWB Top Campsite)
- Glamping
- Boutique hotels
- Farm stays
Note that the different villages have their own different vibe. Den Burg is the capital and fifty percent of Texel’s residents live here. So, as you would expect, Den Burg has more facilities than other villages on the island. De Koog is a lively village and close to the beach. De Cocksdorp is quieter and more remote.
When to Visit Texel
There’s something in every season on Texel:
- Spring: the lambs, the blooming flowers and fewer crowds
- Summer: best weather but busy
- Autumn: great for hiking and birdwatching
- Winter: quiet, moody and very peaceful (strikes me as the perfect environment to write a book….)
Final Thoughts
A break on Texel is as relaxing or as active as you want it to be. Whether you are cycling through dunes, seal spotting in the Wadden Sea or just listening to the wind and the waves, it’s one of the few places in the Netherlands where you can truly switch off and feel a million miles away from it all, especially if you live in the Randstad.
Over to You
I would love to hear from you if you have been to Texel. Share your accommodation, foodie or sight seeing tips!
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