Hi fellow travellers, I’m Rachel – a 30 year old dreamchaser. I grew up in a city in the west of the Netherlands. Thanks for stopping by my short travel guide on the best things to see and do in Texel. Let me tell you why this beautiful Dutch Wadden Island should be on your travel bucket-list.
Growing up in the Netherlands, I was obsessed with the world as a kid. I loved nature documentaries, books with photographs from the world and like many other kids the zoo! My first long-haul trip was when I was 12. We went to South Africa and I told my parents that one day I will live there.
Ten years later and I did just that for six months. I got a big taste of ‘dreamchasing’ which resulted in me pursuing my dreams by travelling the world. Photography is something that developed along the way. There’s no better way to keep a record of your memories than by taking photos.
A Family Tradition Visiting Texel
My boyfriend’s family visits Texel every summer and it’s been a family tradition of ours to come here. Whenever we are both in the Netherlands in the summer we make sure to join them. This year we went for two weeks since we didn’t have any other travel plans due to COVID-19.
On the sunniest days we went to our favourite beach near Paal 15. Other days we went for walks in the dunes and forest. I went mountain biking for the very first time which was awesome by the way. A few other days were spent wandering around the villages of Den Burg and De Koog.
One of my favourite places is the National Park Dunes of Texel located on the west side. Every time we go to the beach we cycle over this shell path through the dunes and it gives me the ultimate holiday feeling.
5 Best Things To Do in Texel
Texel is the ultimate summer destination in the Netherlands. It’s especially an amazing place for beach-lovers with its 30km long sandy beach. Yet, there’s more to this beautiful Wadden Island than just beaches. Below you will find my top five recommendations for things to see and do in Texel.
1. Visit the Beautiful Beaches of Texel
Texel is blessed with a beautiful coastline offering plenty of sun, sand and sea for everyone to enjoy. There are a few great beaches to choose from but the most popular one is at De Koog where you find the cutest boat sheds. Go swimming, sunbathe on the sand and enjoy hours of walking.
2. Rent a Bike and Explore the Island
There are many places in Texel that offer bike rentals. You can pick one up in the morning and go exploring! Choose from a range such as bicycles, tandem bikes and electric bikes. It’s a lot of fun cruising down the coast, through quaint villages and discovering hidden gems on the way.
3. See the Cutest Seals at Ecomare
The Wadden Islands are home to many colonies of seals. These amazing creatures can be seen at Ecomare – a seal sanctuary that takes care of seals if they get hurt or wash up on the beach. A visit to Ecomare gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the precious ecosystem of the Wadden Sea.
4. Have a Beer at one of Texel’s Breweries
This is a must-do for beer lovers. Texel beer has come a long way in recent years, with many brands winning national prizes. You can pick one brewery to visit or take a tour of the different breweries – it’s up to you! Texelse Bierbrouwerij is the most popular and a great place to start your tour.
5. Take a Walk through De Slufter Nature Reserve
De Slufter is the most famous nature area on Texel and it makes for a great day of exploring. This beautiful salt marsh plain is situated between two sand dikes and is intersected by creeks. Summer is a fantastic time to visit as the valley sees many lavender flowers blossom into a sea of purple.
How to Arrive & Where to Stay
To get to Texel you need to take the ferry from Den Helder. They go frequently and you don’t need to make a reservation. If you travel during the high-season make sure to book your accommodation in advance! Texel is popular so it can get quite busy during the summer holidays.
We stay at a campsite – ‘t Woutershok – when we visit Texel which is located close to Den Burg. For those who don’t have camping gear but love camping, ‘t Woutershok also has safari-tents which you can rent. If I were to stay in an Airbnb, I would stay at Just Texel. It looks beautiful!
Perhaps the most unique accommodation on the island is Texel Yurt’s – a yurt experience in nature. I recommend them for something different.
Food Scene on the Island of Texel
As mentioned above, the one thing you have to try in Texel is the beer. In particular, the label called Texels Skuumkoppe. Fun fact: until recently this beer was only available on the island. Pairing perfectly with a beer is the Lamsburger – a must try in Texel and the Netherlands in general.
For non-beer lovers Stokerij Texel is a distillery that produces Gin & Vodka. You can book a tour or just try one of their delicious cocktails.
Some of my favourite restaurants in Texel that I recommend are Gastro Pavillion XV (right on the beach), Grand Cafe Brasserie Raaks in Den Burg and Restaurant BOSQ (superb place for dinner or a lazy Sunday brunch).
My Favourite Memory from Texel
I would like to leave you with my favourite memory of Texel which happened last year. We watched the sunset from a sand dune and it was one of those warm evenings. While sitting there, we realised how beautiful Texel is and how special it is to share moments like this with family.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your visit to the epic Wadden Island of Texel!
