The tourist attractions at Texel island are among the most visited in the Netherlands. From the natural surroundings to the villages, there is something for everyone here.
Location
The island municipality can be found in the North Holland Province. It is a part of the Frisian islands at the Wadden Sea. You can get to the island by ferry from Den Helder. The ferry leaves beginning 6:30 in the morning. There is an airport on the island but the flights are irregular.
What to See
The village of Den Hoorn at the south area has several traditional villages and lush greenery. Over at the west side is De Koog, a small but busy place. If you love nightclubs and the nightlife, this is the place to be. There are also plenty of bars, restaurants and stores. Den Burg is in the middle of the island. It is the largest in the area.
Some of the finest tourist tourist attractions at Texel can be found at the northwest of the island at De Sluffer/Den Muy. This is a nature reserve with trees, lakes and other natural attractions. There are also lagoons.
The island is also a good place to go cycling and swimming. You can also take leisurely strolls and go horseback riding.
History
It has been speculated that the island may have been larger during the Middle Ages. It may have met up with Wieringen at the Marsdiep banks. Several notable battles have taken place there. These include the 1653 Battle of Scheveningen, the 1673 Battle of Texel and the 1797 Battle of Camperdown.
The island also figured in the battles at World War I and World War II. This island also holds the distinction of being the only place where men on horseback defeated a navy force. This happened in 1795. The Dutch were forced to surrender to France when the waters around the island froze.
Cost
There are affordable hotels, bungalows and lodging places around the island. The midrange hotels are small but have starting costs of 40 Euros.
Other Info
Visitors to the island may also want to check out Eierland. This is located at the north center of the island. Thousands of birds breed here.
During the summer, there are more tourist attractions at Texel. For example, there is a boat tour that becomes available that will take you to Vlieland Island close by. You will get to see the Waddenzee sea life there.
