Texel

69km (43 miles) N of Amsterdam

A short ferry trip from Den Helder, family-orientated Texel (pronounced Tess-uhl) is the largest and most populated of the Wadden Islands archipelago. With just 14,000 permanent inhabitants, that's not saying much. Texel, 24km (15 miles) long and a maximum of 9km (6 miles) wide, has a varied landscape of tidal gullies, sand dunes, and rolling meadows, and its entire North Sea shoreline is just one long beach. It has the serenity intrinsic to islands, even allowing for the many visitors who pour in during summer months.

Getting There

The TESO line (tel. 0222/369-691; www.teso.nl) operates two car ferries, the Molengat and the Schulpengat, from Den Helder across the Marsdiep strait to 't Horntje on Texel -- a 20-minute trip (a new, larger ferry, the Dokter Wagemaker, is due to enter service in 2005). A connecting bus shuttles hourly between Den Helder railway station and the Den Helder ferry dock. Ferries depart hourly at peak times and reservations are not accepted. Return fares for cars, including passengers, are April to October, Friday to Monday 35€ ($44), and at all other times 25€ ($31); for passengers alone, return fares are 3€ ($3.75) for adults, 1.50€ ($1.90) for children ages 4 to 11, and free for children under 4. Bikes cost 2.50€ ($3.10).

Visitor Information

VVV Texel, Emmalaan 66, 1790 AA Den Burg (tel. 022/231-2847; fax 022/231-4129; www.texel.net), just off the main road into town from the ferry harbor. The office is open April to November, Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm, Friday from 9am to 9pm, and Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm (July-Aug, also Sun 10am-1:30pm); December to March, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Getting Around

Cars are permitted on Texel and buses connects the villages and the main beaches, but there's no doubt that the best way to get around and to respect the island's environment is to go by bike. These can be brought over free on the ferry, or rented from dozens of outlets around the island.

What to See and Do

Beaches, sailing, biking, hiking, and bird-watching are the big attractions on Texel, yet eating, drinking, and partying have a place too. The main village, Den Burg, is a bustling settlement near the center of the island. For a glimpse of historical island life, visit its moderately interesting, centrally located De Oudheidkamer, Koogerstraat 1 (tel. 0222/313-135), in a house from 1599, the island's oldest, furnished in a style from around 1900. The museum is open April to October, daily from 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 3:30pm. Admission is 1.80€ ($2.25) for adults, 1€ ($1.25) for children.

Areas of dune and forest belonging to the Staatsbosbeheer (State Forest Authority) may be freely visited so long as you stick to the marked trails. Guided tours of some of these areas are conducted by wildlife biologists from EcoMare, Ruyslaan 92 (tel. 0222/317-741; www.ecomare.nl), a Wadden Islands research center, located amid the sand dunes just south of the main coastal village, De Koog. EcoMare's visitor center houses a small natural history museum that features the geology and plants of Texel, and its wildlife of land, sea, and air. The Wadden Sea was rich in seals until a 1988 viral epidemic greatly reduced their numbers, and EcoMare's seal rehabilitation facility aids the recovery effort by caring for weak and injured seals until they are strong enough to be returned to the sea. An additional rehabilitation project cares for birds affected by pollution and other hazards.

Some 300 bird species have been observed on Texel, of which around 100 breed on the island. Among the avian stars are oyster-catchers, Bewicks swans, spoonbills, eider ducks, Brent geese, avocets, marsh harriers, snow buntings, ringed plovers, kestrels, short-eared owls, and bar-tailed godwits. You can observe these and more in the De Schorren, De Bol, and Dijkmanshuizen, three protected nature reserves that may be entered only on tours conducted by guides from EcoMare .