Texel - the island of rabbits

There are few places like Texel - allowing you to relax in nature, away from everything. Where wild rabbits live, and sheep and cows graze on green meadows. Where pheasants walk dignified.

Texel is part of the West Frisian Islands and is separated from the Netherlands by the Wadden Sea. As it is the largest island in the archipelago and the closest to the mainland, tourists like it the most. The other main islands (Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling and Vlieland) are less crowded and noisy due to the difficulty of access. Ferries arrive there, but the cost of such a trip can discourage many.

Take the ferry to Texel

The ferry trip to Texel takes around 30 minutes and we depart from Den Helder. The journey costs approx. 2.5 euro / person one way. If someone plans to take the car, the ticket price increases to approx. 36 euro (both ways). The more frequently chosen option is to leave the vehicle in Den Helder and rent a bike - you can do it at the ferry or on the island. There is a rental facility in each town of Texel, and the total length of bicycle paths is as much as 140 km.

The island has its own airport, Texel International Airport, but the vast majority of tourists choose to travel by ferry . It runs regularly, with the greatest intensity during the holiday season. There is a shop and canteen on the ferry, as well as a basket with free newspapers. It's worth taking one as it has maps of the island and a calendar of upcoming cultural events.

Walk on the island of Texel

After setting foot on Texel , you can - as it was mentioned above - rent a bike or, if you visit the island in the summer season, take a bus and go to a specific town. They run quite rarely, but are integrated with the arrival times of the ferries, so after disembarking, you can immediately rush towards the stop.

When wandering in the northern part of the island, we must remember that you must not leave the walking paths - we are in the national park. Its beauty makes tourists love to come here. At the end of Texel, behind De Cocksdorp , there is a lighthouse. It stands on a promontory that you can walk around with a wide beach strip.

If we happen to hit the tide, we will encounter at least some interesting species of sea creatures while wading in the water. In addition to crabs on Texel, you can see the so-called sea mushrooms (zeepaddenstoelen), looking like a huge broken egg with a blue yolk. These are jellyfish, which are exceptionally abundant in this region. An interesting sight are also the clusters of squid eggs, resembling anemones. One cluster tube can hold up to 100 eggs.

The fauna of the largest island of the archipelago

On the North Sea side, the Texel area is sandy, with numerous beaches and dunes with low vegetation. In turn, the south-eastern part of the island is typically agricultural. The inhabitants breed sheep, in the pastures we will also see many pheasants and a cow with a thick fur, slightly resembling a buffalo. Wandering through the meadows, we come across a rabbit at every turn. They have no natural enemies here, so they live free and happy on the island, joyfully reproducing.

A trip to Texel will delight every ornithologist. In addition to sheep, cows, rabbits and the creatures that the waves throw ashore at high tide, we will see great bird habitats on the island. They are especially numerous here during the periods of migrations, resting in the surrounding wetlands.

Overnight on Texel - where to look for it?

The largest town on the island is De Koog , kind of a village, but very developed in terms of tourism. We can easily find accommodation in one of the many guesthouses. The village also has a lot of restaurants, shops and stalls. First of all, it has a very good location - it is easy to reach any place on Texel by bike.

The island is perfect for someone who is looking for a quiet corner to relax. To be able to calmly observe nature, enjoy the sea breeze and green meadows. Texel partygoers will get bored, but they are unlikely to come here.