EXPLORE NETHERLANDS IN 6 DAYS – DAY 4
We had never heard of Texel until lately just a few weeks before we visited the Netherlands. We loved the pictures of this beautiful island over the Internet. Hence we planned to include Texel in our plan by pushing in days in Amsterdam. Texel is a beautiful island in the north of the Netherlands, away from the crowd of tourists. It is a well-kept secret among the Dutch people who love to spend their weekend vacations here. It is just 2 h away from Amsterdam, so can be easily done in a day-trip. Though after visiting this hidden gem, we advise you to spend at least a night or two there.
Highlights of the Day
- Amsterdam to Texel Island
- Texel Lighthouse
What Is Interesting About Texel?
Texel is one of the five beautiful and highly individual Wadden Islands, facing the Wadden Sea. Wadden Sea is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site now. The other four islands are Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog.
Texel is a weekend vacation island among the local people.
You have plenty things to do in Texel: sun-bath on its clean beaches, bike along its heather-filled dunes, swim into the Wadden Sea, visit its seal sanctuary for injured seals, and taking in cute little Dutch towns. The highlight of our visit was the red lighthouse called Eierland Lighthouse, locally known as Vuurtoren Texel. It is located at the northern tip of the island, called Cocksdorp.
Getting to Texel Lighthouse from Amsterdam
We took around 3 h to reach the Eierland Lighthouse, Texel by the following way:
- First, we walked to the Amsterdam Centraal station from our hostel – Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen, which is within a distance of 1.5 km. Then, we boarded the train to Den Helder station, which is 90 km north of Amsterdam.
- We took a bus from Den Helder bus station to Den Helder port.
- We took the ferry that took 30 min to reach Texel island. You can buy beautiful souvenirs of the island inside the ferry, if you are interested.
- In Texel, we were picked up by a van and were dropped to Eierland Lighthouse bus stop.
As we have got round-trip tickets, the same van would come to pick us up at the same point at around 7 PM. We had few hours in hand to spend in the pretty beach of Texel.
Texel Beach and Lighthouse
Did you know that the Texel lighthouse is the only one in the Netherlands where you can see the sea from three directions?
Texel lighthouse is located on the northernmost tip of the island, directly on the most dangerous sea arm in the Netherlands. With clear skies, looking across the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the island’s northern region and Vlieland, and also spectacular views of the North Sea toward England and the North Pole.
Top 5 Things To Do in Texel
We highly recommend you to spend a night or two in Texel. There are so many things to do in this beautiful island. We wish to visit this place again when we come to Netherlands, and do other things which we did not get to do due to short of time. I have listed down the top 5 things you must do when in Texel:
- Rent a bicycle and explore the island. The best way is to cycle through the beautiful forest of the Dunes of Texel National Park.
- Visit Ecomare, a seal shelter and a nature museum. It takes care of sick animals by providing shelter and care for them as the seal population is threatened in North Sea by the flow of polluting waste materials and drowning in a fish nets.
- Climb the 153 steps leading to the top of Texel Lighthouse while you soak in the history of the lighthouse. Enjoy magnificent views of Wadden Sea and North Sea.
- Enjoy mudflat walking, locally called wadlopen, which means walking across the bottom of the sea while you can enjoy the sandbanks, various plants, birds, fish, and when lucky, some seals.
- Visit the municipality capital in Texel, called Den Burg – the biggest village in Texel, and try northern Dutch food in any of the restaurants or cafes there.
Upon reaching Amsterdam Centraal station, we picked up our favorite dinner from Maoz Vegetarian Restaurant. It has become our usual dinner spot in Amsterdam. It is the usual yet delicious Lebanese pita sandwich with falafel, hummus, and choice of veggies and salads. We crashed to our hostel beds soon before I remember anything else.
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN EUR)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 4 in The Netherlands – Day-Trip to Texel from Amsterdam.
- Stay at Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen (1 night) for twin sharing:Â 50
- Food at Maoz and snacks: 20
- Public transport (overall): 55
- Miscellaneous: 20
Total expense (roughly):Â 145 EUR
For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
I wasn’t familiar with Texel, but it looks beautiful. I would definitely want to climb to the top of that beautiful lighthouse!
Yes, it’s a must to climb the lighthouse out there. The view is magnificent.
I haven’t heard much about Texel but it seems like a great day trip from Amsterdam. I love your red dress by the way and all your pictures are amazing. The lighthouse is a must see for someone like me, I love such places.
Thanks Medha. I would love to get back to Texel again once I am back to Amsterdam.
I think I would enjoy these areas from a bicycle, I love to ride. The town is small but it seems like a lovely place to visit, and a spot with some history to it. The mud walking sounds interesting, you even see other people walking in the mud in the distance! Thanks for sharing 🙂
We loved wadlopen too – mud-walking is so so fun!
How very cool. I like most I am sure have never heard of Texel. So many people just head over to Amsterdam but I would love to explore this small island nearby.
The Eierland Lighthouse looks cool and I love the different angles you got. I think seeing the bullet holes and history behind its usage during the war would be a great time to me.
So how cold was that water?
It was chilling cold. But the view was so good. I loved it.
i have never heard of textel but the place looks gorgeous..how do u find such offbeat places..beautiful pictures.. and luv ur dress
Thanks Ritika. I keep reading blogs before I plan, that helps a lot.
This sounds like such a great day trip! I had no idea there was so much to do outside of Amsterdam! x
Oh, there are more Becca. These are just a few.
What a wonderful day trip out of Amsterdam. I love the colours of the rooftops and how they are consistent wherever you go and the stone houses. that’s not something I see in Australia! The Texel lighthouse looks like fun and very cool fact about being the only one where you can see from 3 direction. I reckon I’d love the mudflat walks. How cool is that!
You would love Texel, Amy.
Texel looks like a lovely place, especially Eierland Lighthouse. I like the idea of hiring bikes in the National Park. Great to see a post on the Netherlands that isn’t Amsterdam!
Yes, there are so many beautiful places in the Netherlands, this is surely one of them.
What a beautiful and remote part of The Netherlands to see. I used to visit for 5 years in Amsterdam but never made it out to Texel. Biking is a must in the country, and I miss doing it! A lovely read and pretty place to visit.
Texel is love.
I haven’t heard of Texel and it looks like such a fun place for a day trip. Looks like the ferry was nice and big too! I would definitely rent a bike and explore the cute area. The beach looks great and the Eierland Lighthouse looks awesome with all the different angles you can get 🙂
Oh yes, the lighthouse took my heart away.
Texel is amazing. I’m glad you went there. I loved my stay in Texel. The train to Del Helden and then the Teso Ferry and then the local van in Texel everything is so cool, isn’t it? The light house was awesome too! Indeed cycling is the best way to explore the island. I love your passport covers. Where did you get them done?
Glad to know that you love the passport covers. I did From Chiang Mai.