Duinen van Texel National Park (known in English as “Dunes of Texel National Park”) is among the most beautiful and interesting national parks in the Netherlands. Located on the North Holland island of Texel (pronounced: Tessel), Duinen van Texel National Park is a spectacular mix of sand dunes, beaches, pine forests, and fascinating history. There’s a lot of great stuff to see and do here, and its location makes it one of the best day trips from Amsterdam. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look!
TRIVIA:
❒ Official name: Dunes of Texel National Park (Duinen van Texel Nationaal Park)
❒ Established: 2002
❒ Size: 4300 ha
❒ Location: North Holland
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About Dunes of Texel National Park
Duinen van Texel National Park covers approximately 43 square kilometres (4,300 hectares) and stretches along the entire western coastline of the island of Texel. There are several distinct sections within the Texel national park area. These include the military training area of De Hors at the far southern end, the wet dune valley of De Geul, and De Slufter, a wide dune valley where the North Sea flows endlessly in and out with the changing of the tides.
The Dunes of Texel National Park is very well known in the Netherlands and has quite an interesting history. The island itself was part of the mainland of North Holland until the 12th century, when a flood permanently separated the two. In 1927, renowned Dutch biologist and conservationist Jacobus Pieter Thijsse published a book on Texel’s unusual plants and animals, highlighting the incredible diversity and natural value of the island – particularly the sand dunes on the western coast. The book was a bestseller, raising Texel’s profile across the entire country. It was finally added as a National Park in 2002, under the management of Staatsbosbeheer, the Dutch national forestry organisation.
How to get to the Dunes of Texel National Park
Despite being an island, Duinen van Texel National Park is quite accessible from the most populous areas of the Netherlands. It’s about 90 minutes on the train from Amsterdam Centraal, or 2.5 hours from Rotterdam Centraal to the town of Den Helder on the coast, a short bus between the train station and the ferry terminal, and then just a 20-minute ferry ride across the channel to Texel. Ferries run every 30 minutes, and accept passengers on foot, on bicycles and in cars and motorbikes as well.
Tip: Read this post about using the public transport in the Netherlands. It’s packed with tips that only a local knows!
Facilities in Dunes of Texel National Park
The main visitor’s centre in Duinen van Texel National Park is known as Ecomare, and is located just south of De Koog, roughly in the centre of the dune area. Ecomare is a unique combination of museum, aquarium, and visitor’s centre. Here you’ll find a series of exhibitions and displays about the unique plants and animals found in the Duinen van Texel National Park, and the nearby Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of the major highlights at Ecomare is the seal aquarium, where rescued seals are nursed back to health. Feedings are held twice each day and are always fun for the entire family! There’s also an adjacent bird sanctuary, where sick and injured birds are cared for. Public feedings are also held here as well.
Elsewhere on the island, you’ll find the Bird Information Centre Texel right at the northern tip of the national park, in the village of De Cocksdorp. There’s a wealth of birdwatching information here, with details about the latest sightings, where to visit to see particular species, and of course binoculars, maps, and more.
And finally, the newly opened Natuurcentrum De Marel is located in the centre of the island. It’s another great centre for bird watching, nature displays, and meeting places for many of the great walks through the Duinen van Texel National Park.
Things to do at Dunes of Texel National Park
So, what are the best things to see and do at Duinen van Texel? Read on to discover some of the highlights.
1. Walking & Hiking
There’s a large network of trails that criss-cross the dunes and national park area, ranging from short and accessible family-friendly strolls to serious long-distance hikes. De Slufter Family trail is only 800 metres and a great option to experience De Slufter if you’ve got young children or have limited mobility.
Another popular option is the 1.5-kilometre Dune Experience trail, starting from Ecomare. To check out one of the more unusual landscapes in the park – the wet dune valley – follow the 3.8-kilometre Horspolders trail. Or if you’re an experienced hiker, the 20-kilometre Moksloot route around the southern dunes and mud flats might be more to your liking!
Be sure to check in at the information centres before setting off on your hike, as some areas of the park are closed during bird breeding seasons.
2. Cycling
There’s over 140 kilometres of cycling paths across Texel, much of it focused on the Texel National Park area. Rental bikes are available to rent from almost every town and village on the island, and there are plenty of choices at the ferry terminal in ‘t Horntje as well.
Some recommended cycling routes here include the 36-kilometre Round Trip North, which takes in De Slufter, Oosterend, De Koog and the lighthouse as well. Tour West (also 36 kilometres) is another highly recommended route that traces the western coastline of the island, including Eierland, Den Burg, wild forests, and remote dunes. And there’s the Round South (42.6 kilometres) through many of the famous bird breeding areas of the south like Den Burg, Oudeschild and Den Hoorn.
3. Birdwatching
With its mixture of sea and land birds, local and migratory species, Duinen van Texel is a bird watching paradise. The most iconic bird to look for is the Black-Tailed Godwit, which settle and breed in the area between February and July, before heading south for the winter. Be sure to also watch for many other species including ducks and geese, oystercatchers, spoonbills, terns, owls, and harriers.
There are several great areas for birdwatching in the park, but some of the best include De Slufter salt marsh, the DeMuy lakes and dunes, Mok Bay and De Petten mudflats, and the dunes/beaches right at the northern tip of the island.
4. Staying Overnight
Although Texel is conveniently located close to Amsterdam, and a good distance for a day trip, staying overnight on the island is a very special experience and highly recommended. Although camping isn’t permitted within the national park itself, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from on the island. There are some excellent campgrounds located around the villages of De Cocksdorp, De Koog, and Den Hoorn. And of course, if you do spend the night on Texel, be sure to look up! It has one of the darkest skies in the Netherlands, and is a great place to do some stargazing.
Final Words
Overall, Duinen van Texel National Park is a beautiful and exciting place. It’s conveniently located near Amsterdam, and has some great activities the whole family will love. The Dunes of Texel National Park really is a genuine highlight of North Holland, and well worth a visit.
