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    Texel

    Netherlands

    Texel

    IslandBeachNature

    Texel is the largest of the West Frisian Islands and belongs to the province of Noord-Holland; from Den Helder on the mainland, the car ferry crosses in about 20 minutes.

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    9. Texel
    Texel is the largest of the West Frisian Islands and belongs to the province of Noord-Holland; from Den Helder on the mainland, the car ferry crosses in about 20 minutes. You come for the approximately 30-kilometer-long sandy beach on the west coast, the dune belt of the Duinen van Texel National Park, and bike tours between seven villages.
    Texel is the largest and westernmost of the inhabited West Frisian Islands, 23.7 kilometers long and 9.6 kilometers wide. Around 13,700 people live on the island (as of January 1, 2021), about 7,000 of them in the main town, Den Burg. The largest tourist center is De Koog on the west coast; other villages include Oudeschild, Den Hoorn, Oosterend, De Waal, and De Cocksdorp at the northern tip. An approximately 30-kilometer-long sandy beach extends along the west coast; the dune belt behind it has belonged to Nationalpark Duinen van Texel since 2002. North of De Koog lies the nature reserve De Slufter, which was formed in 1851 during a storm surge by a dune breach. The Texel sheep, which stays outdoors even in very cold weather, hails from the island.

    Sights in Texel

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ecomare
    Museum

    Ecomare

    Nature Museum and Aquarium with a rescue center for seals and birds.
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    Eierland Lighthouse
    Museum

    Eierland Lighthouse

    Accessible lighthouse at the island's northern tip. Climb a steel spiral staircase to the view.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum Kaap Skil
    Museum

    Museum Kaap Skil

    Sea and Beach Raiders Museum in Oudeschild, on shipping history, in a wave-inspired building.
    Open in Google Maps
    National Park Dunes of Texel
    National Park

    National Park Dunes of Texel

    The island's dune belt is part of the National Park since 2002. Bike and walking trails lead through sand dunes, beaches, and forests.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Texel

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ecomare
    Museum

    1Ecomare

    Nature Museum and Aquarium with a rescue center for seals and birds.
    Open in Google Maps
    Eierland Lighthouse
    Museum

    2Eierland Lighthouse

    Accessible lighthouse at the island's northern tip. Climb a steel spiral staircase to the view.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum Kaap Skil
    Museum

    3Museum Kaap Skil

    Sea and Beach Raiders Museum in Oudeschild, on shipping history, in a wave-inspired building.
    Open in Google Maps
    National Park Dunes of Texel
    National Park

    4National Park Dunes of Texel

    The island's dune belt is part of the National Park since 2002. Bike and walking trails lead through sand dunes, beaches, and forests.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Texel

    1

    Freya Le bistro

    Bistro on Gravenstraat in Den Burg.
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    2

    Heart of Texel

    Bistro offering Dutch cuisine on Zwaanstraat in Den Burg.
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    3

    Tavern The Twelve Rafters

    Café, pub, and grill restaurant on Weverstraat in Den Burg.
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    Museums and History

    The Ecomare brings together a natural history museum and an aquarium with a sanctuary for seals and birds. In Oudeschild, the Museum Kaap Skil tells the story of shipping and wreckers. At the northern tip stands the climbable Eierland Lighthouse.A dark chapter in the island's history is the uprising of Georgian auxiliary troops against the German occupation in April and May 1945, in which approximately 3,000 people died, including 117 civilians.

    Getting Here and Around

    You get to Texel with the TESO car ferry from Den Helder; the crossing takes about 20 minutes.On the island, the cycle path network is at least as well developed as the road network – making the bicycle a great option for getting between villages, dunes, and the beach.

    Accommodations in Texel

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    Campgrounds in Texel

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