Nature on Texel
Beach, dunes, salt marshes, woods & polders
Texel is sometimes referred to as the Netherlands in miniature. An apt label, thanks to its rich variety of landscapes. Long beaches, vast dune areas, but also woods and polders. Very special are the wet dune valleys and salt marshes. Also unique are the island’s flora and fauna. From millions of wild orchids in June to the sea lavender that colours De Slufter purple in July and August. And, of course, the many birds on the island. A real treat for birdwatchers!
Nature conservation on Texel
De Krim Texel is inextricably linked to the island and nature on Texel. We see that Texel is also vulnerable. There are various organisations on Texel that care for nature and make it possible for all of us to enjoy it. That’s why we work closely together with nature conservation organisations Natuurmonumenten, De Waddenvereniging and De Vogelbescherming.
Go on a Wadden Sea tour
A visit to Texel is not complete without a Wadden Sea tour.
The Waddenvereniging (The Wadden Society) organises various excursions almost every day during the summer months. These include Wadden Sea tours, trawler trips, dawn excursions, children’s beach days and Wadden tasting events.
More info about excursions by the Waddenvereniging on the Wadden island of Texel.
The best Texeltips
Calidris
Bird expert Klaas de Jong shows you a large variety of birds in the loveliest parts of Texel’s countryside. Calidris is specialised in customised bird-watching excursions. These safaris are suitable for...
... people who love birds and prefer small groups. Choose between a half-day and a whole day safari, a weekend and midweek. You will be collected from your holiday address.
Location: Texel
De Geul
De Geul is a long valley between two rows of dunes, with a small lake and an observation tower facing Mokbaai to guarantee wonderful views. Many rare...
... birds have made De Geul their home. In fact, it’s the site of the world’s largest colony of spoonbills, who share it with a large colony of gulls. The rangers here regularly organise excursions.
Location: Mokweg 18, Den Hoorn
De Vrijheid
Welcome on board De Vrijheid; come and see seals at close range. While you sail, you can watch Texel’s beautiful skyline and feel the sea breeze in your hair. Skipper Hutjes has plenty to tell...
... about Texel on your way to the seals. The trip lasts about an hour, so there’s plenty of time to take photographs of the seals.
Location: Haven 9, Oudeschild
Bike Routes
140 km of bicycle paths lead across the island and offer the best possibility to get to know the real Texel. Cycle through dunes, the forest and past many of Texels most beautiful sights. You can bring your own bike...
...or simply rent one. Too much wind for cycling? Rent an E-bike instead! Sportive cyclist can enjoy the special and challenging nature paths. Texels biking routes have something to offer for everyone!
Beach
Texel is known for its long, vasty sand beaches. Even in the main season there is more than enough space to build sand castles, to fly a kite or just relax in the sun. In case you are more at home in the water than...
....on land: try Kitesurfing, Surfing or Windsurfing! And at the end of the day many cozy beach cafes offer the possibility to sit down and let the day rewind with a hot chocolate or a Texels bier!
Location: Along the coastline
Walking Routes
A walk on Texel will produce wide, open views, varied and rich wildlife and lovely, quiet footpaths. The landscape changes from dunes to beach, from meadow to heath and woodland. Many kilometres of footpaths...
...and a wide range of paths are waiting to be explored. The National Forest Service built 180 kilometres of footpaths on Texel. And Society for the Preservation of Nature has very pretty routes too.
Location: Multiple Locations
De Bollekamer
Few places in the National Park Duinen van Texel are as varied as the dunes of De Bollekamer. Go for a stroll in the dune valley. In the eastern part of De Bollekamer...
...the dunes are more whimsical. The rows of dunes create lovely views. The area is full of lovely walks. Perhaps you’ll see the Scottish highland cattle.
Location: Rommelpot, Den Hoorn
De Mokbaai
De Mokbaai is a miniature version of the Wadden Sea, with salt marshes, mud flats, a channel and a mussel bed. De Mokbaai’s salt marsh is an important refuge for wading birds at high tide. Much of the bay...
.. is dry at low tide. The salt marshes run along its edges and there are two bird reserves in the north: De Petten and ’t Stoar, making De Mokbaai an ideal spot for birdwatching.
Location: Mokweg, Den Hoorn
Wadden Bird Festival
Birds are everywhere on Texel: there are many different species, often rare ones. Discover Texel’s wealth of birds at the Wadden Bird Festival. Texel has 380 different species of birds...
... so it has more birds than anywhere else in the Netherlands. The nutrient-rich mudflats are great stopovers for migrating birds. The event offers visitors lots to do.
Location: Kikkertstraat 42-44, De Cocksdorp
Jan Plezier
Jan Plezier’s covered waggon tours offer lovely trips across Texel, travelling through varied landscapes with heath, moist dune valleys, dry dunes, woods and wide beaches. See Texel’s...
...countryside from a covered waggon drawn by Belgian cart horses. This 3-hour covered waggon tour takes in the wildlife areas of De Nederlanden, De Muy, De Slufter and the beach, woods and dunes.
Location: Nikadel, De Koog
Ecomare
Ecomare offers many things to experience such as the seal rescue station, a nature museum, an aquarium, a dune park and an observatory. Ecomare wants to playfully educate people about the importance of nature...
...and how to protect it. Especially the feedings of the seals are a highlight for young and old. Seals, porpoises, fish and birds are only some of the animals that you can find at Ecomare.
Location: Ruijslaan 92, De Koog
Robbentocht in 't Noorden
A Robbentocht With 100% seal guarantee. Get on board of de Vriendschap at climber at Paal 33. The most northerly part from the shallow characterizes himself by the peace and the steep sandbanks where seals like to stay and enjoy the sun...
...The passenger boat de Vriendschap sailt close by de sandbanks. A beautyful tour om world heritage the shallow is like 75 minutes sail.
De Vriendschap
Take a day trip to Vlieland and explore the neighbouring island in your own time or go looking for seals! De Vriendschap offers an almost daily ferry service to Vlieland in the summer season, great for a day of...
... cycling or walking. The seal-watching trips take you to see the large groups of seals near Eierlandse Gat.
Location: Volharding 2A, De Cocksdorp
De Dennen
Mention Texel and beaches and dunes are the first things that come to mind. However, Texel has some beautiful woodland: De Dennen It’s great place for walks or bike rides. As well walking or biking in De Dennen...
... you can play and have picnics too. There’s a barbecue area, an MTB route and woodland playgrounds for the kids. The Alloopath is a wheelchair walk.
Location: Ruijslaan 92, De Koog
Explore the Wad
On board of a real fishermen-cutter you can enjoy two hours of fishing, along with many interesting stories told by the fishermen. Discover all the things that go into the fischermen's nets on their hunt for shrimps and...
....learn about the inhabitants of the sea. The caught shrimps will be cooked while still being on board and can be tasted immediately afterwards. One of the few opportunities to eat shrimps that fresh!
Location: Haven 8, Oudeschild
Sight-Seeing Flight
If you want to see Texel from the air, come to Tessel Air! Anything’s possible: just enjoy the views or fly a plane yourself. See Texel from a unique angle! Tessel Air has...
... a number of craft for sight-seeing flights. You can choose between the different flight times. From the plane, you can see across the whole island!
Location: Postweg 128, De Cocksdorp
Collect oysters
Whoever searches will find! The mudflats are full of tasty oysters, as long as you know where to look. De Oesterman is happy to help you with this. He teaches you the tricks & likes to show you where to look ..
… The Oysterman also teaches you how to open oysters during this quest. Of course, oysters are also tasted while enjoying bubbles. Look for the current data / information on the website.
Painting workshop
At Gelarie Posthuys, that is where real art is made! During the landscape painting workshop by Maurice Christo van Meijel, you can go outside to put Texel on paper….
... Think of the wonderful nature that Texel has to offer. A very nice and creative souvenir of your time on Texel! When it rains, painting is done indoors, for example in a beach pavilion.
Ecomare
At Ecomare, you will never be bored! Also during the autumn school holidays all kinds of fun activities for all ages and interests are organised. Check the programme for the bone show, puppet show, anatomical lessons, or drawing workshop. Or meet..
...the new residents of Ecomare: The seal sanctuary has recently gotten two ringed seals. Can you spot the differences between this seal and the common seal?
De Slufter
De Slufter is a stunning and special nature reserve with an open connection to the north sea. De Slufter is a perfect environment to take long walks in and enjoy the landscape that the changing tides have created. If...
... there is a strong storm, the area is sometimes even entirely flooded. Many birds can be observed in De Slufter, as they like the special and quiet environment to build their nests here.
Location: De Cocksdorp, De Koog
Excursion: Salty creeks of the Slufter
The forester's tip for autumn? Put on your boots and go outside! Join us on an excursion and stroll through the salty creeks of the Slufter. Walking across the salt marsh, wading through creeks and climbing over dunes you will discover this special nature reserve...
... This excursion takes place in the part of the Slufter that is not freely accessible. You can enjoy it under the guidance of the Staatsbosbeheer Texel guide. Duration 2 hours.
Location: De Slufter, De Cocksdorp
Texel’s unique flora and fauna
The saltwater conditions on Texel have given rise to unique flora and fauna, with sea lavender growing in nature reserves De Slufter and De Muy, for example. In June, millions of wild orchids bloom on Texel. Very rare elsewhere in the Netherlands, these wild orchids grow abundantly in the Texel countryside.
The most beautiful nature reserve of the Netherlands
In 2016, the Dutch Wadden were voted the most beautiful nature reserve in the Netherlands by the Dutch people. This video accompanied the competition entry and shows just how beautiful the Texel Wadden really are.
Special Offers & Packages
Two nights in a hotelchalet. Incl. breakfast, 2 rental bike's, bottle of wine, bike- und hikingmap and bedlinen.
Questions?
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All prices 2021 include VAT, reservation fee and excluding tourist tax of € 2.25 per person per night. Prices for all holiday homes and furnished tents with bathroom include final cleaning. The following applies additionally to the holiday homes and all furnished tents: including bedlinen for the 1st person, excluding mandatory bedlinen from the 2nd person and on at € 9.30 per person. Prices subject to change.
For group bookings, please contact the Booking office.
All prices 2021 include VAT, reservation fee and excluding tourist tax of € 2.25 per person per night. Prices for all holiday homes and furnished tents with bathroom include final cleaning. The following applies additionally to the holiday homes and all furnished tents: including bedlinen for the 1st person, excluding mandatory bedlinen from the 2nd person and on at € 9.30 per person. Prices subject to change.
For group bookings, please contact the Booking office.
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© 2018 De Krim Texel - Legal Information
© 2018 De Krim Texel