Holiday apartment on Texel: discover nature, the Wadden Sea and island culture

The Duinen van Texel National Park encompasses heathland, salt marshes, wet and dry dune valleys, deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as expansive beaches. The De Geul nature reserve is home to the largest spoonbill colony in the Netherlands. On the eastern side of Texel lies De Schorren, an extensive salt marsh area where spoonbills, common eiders and oystercatchers feed and breed.

At Ecomare, visitors can see seals, seabirds and other marine animals and learn more about the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, the North Sea and nature on Texel. Seals are cared for there permanently; every day at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., there is a presentation featuring the permanent seal group. Ecomare can be reached by bus, bicycle and car and is connected to Texel’s cycling network.

Trails and landscapes

The hiking trail network on Texel covers almost 250 kilometres and forms an extensive network of routes across the entire island. The Het Alloo nature trail runs along the banks of a small dune lake and through flower-rich grassland where meadow birds breed. The trail is suitable for people using walking frames and wheelchairs, as well as for blind and visually impaired people. A hiking route through the northern part of Duinen van Texel National Park leads from De Cocksdorp to Ecomare; the highlight is De Slufter.

A long trail through the De Nederlanden nature reserve passes through various types of landscape. De Nederlanden features a varied landscape of dunes, dune valleys and wet grasslands. The high Bertusnol dune hill has a staircase leading to Texel’s highest viewpoint. De Schorren is accessible only as part of guided excursions; an adventurous mudflat hike across the salt marsh offers the chance to experience birds, small animals and special plants.

Culture and history

The open-air museum of Museum Kaap Skil depicts a traditional fishing village with authentically reconstructed fishermen’s houses, a bakery and a forge. Between May and October, craftspeople can often be seen working there. Meierblis is a centuries-old tradition on Texel that is still celebrated: on 30 April, bonfires are lit to welcome spring and mark the farewell to winter.

Texel Lighthouse and the surrounding bunker complex were part of a defensive installation of the German Atlantic Wall during the Second World War. The lighthouse was severely damaged during the guerrilla war on the island. The Oudheidkamer Texel shows how people lived in the past, including sleeping in a bedstead and cooking over coal.

Culinary experiences and encounters

At Schapenboerderij Texel, visitors can see young lambs up close in open enclosures. De Waddel offers a walk with a tasting on the Hoge Berg. On Texel, visitors can collect fresh oysters themselves in the Wadden Sea. To round off a beer experience, three beers can be sampled in tasting glasses.

Getting to the island

TESO has operated the ferry service between Texel and the mainland since 1907.

Holiday apartments on Texel

When comparing holiday apartments on Texel, pay attention to the included services, individual price components, as well as the applicable booking and cancellation conditions. Check this information directly on the respective offer page before making your decision.

Other places on Texel: De Koog, Den Burg, Den Hoorn, Oosterend, Oudeschild, De Waal. Other travel destinations: North Brabant.

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