Holiday apartment in Oudeschild: harbour, history and Wadden Sea

Oudeschild combines harbour, island history and the Wadden Sea to create a versatile holiday destination. The village originated at the beginning of the 17th century and is the only village on Texel located directly by the sea. In the harbour, you can observe the ebb and flow of the tide. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Oudeschild, the character of the village provides clear orientation: this is where maritime experiences, historical discoveries and explorations of the landscape come together.

Harbour cruises and experiences on the Wadden Sea

Several ships depart from the harbour of Oudeschild for cruises on the Wadden Sea; some operate almost daily. On board the historic pilot boat Texelstroom, visitors can take a trip across the Wadden Sea. With TX Garnalenvissen, you head out on the Texel cutters TX 10 Emmie or TX 20 Walrus. Shortly after leaving the harbour of Oudeschild, the nets are cast and shrimp are caught.

A special combination of sailing and the tidal landscape is offered by the three-hour low-tide excursion “Het Wad op!” with the TX 10 Emmie. It takes you to a sandbank, where participants leave the boat via a gangway and begin mudflat hiking. This allows active days on the water and on foot to be combined.

Culture and fishing in Oudeschild

The Kaap Skil Museum displays finds from divers and fishermen, as well as island life from a century ago. The exhibition “Schip in Zicht – De Reede van Texel en de Wereld” reveals the hidden stories of 160 ships with the help of a maritime model and new techniques. The fishing monument in Oudeschild consists of a piece of the railing from the TX 3 (Biem-Jan), a replica of the sword of the TX 11 made from the original in the Kaap Skil Museum, and information panels about fishing on Texel.

At De Oude Vismarkt, the exhibition “Leven van de vis” presents contemporary fishing on Texel. It is free, interactive and accessible to people with disabilities. HavenVIStijn features demonstrations and music, including performances by the Oudeschilder Visserskoor. Visitors can also take a trip on board an KNRM vessel.

Experience historical traces and the landscape

Fort de Schans near Oudeschild was built around 1574 on the orders of William of Orange to protect Texel and the Reede van Texel from the Spanish. The VOC ships anchored off the Reede van Texel brought trade and prosperity. Between Den Burg and Oudeschild, Texel’s characteristic landscape, with sheep pastures, Tuunwallen, sheep sheds and ponds, is particularly well preserved. The Hoge Berg can be explored on foot or by bicycle, while several cycling and walking routes pass the Wezenputten.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Oudeschild, you can therefore consider how you would like to spend your holiday days: cruises across the Wadden Sea, insights into fishing and island history, or paths through the landscape. The variety of experiences gives families and other travellers ideas for diverse days, without every day having to follow the same rhythm.

More places on Texel

If you would like to discover more places on Texel, you can find Den Burg, Oosterend, De Cocksdorp, Den Hoorn, De Waal and De Koog here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Texel.