Texel

Texel is the largest of the Dutch Wadden islands, the North Holland archipelago that extends almost to Denmark. Pronounced "Tessel" (as the x assumes an ss sound), it received city rights in 1415 and is currently home to approximately 14,000 permanent residents. When the weather is acceptable, as it was recently, that number swells with tourists eager to enjoy the quaint towns, rustic and rugged landscape, seacoast and beaches. It is estimated that over 900,000 people visit Texel every year!

The Wadden Islands were formed in the 12^th century when storms and floods unleashed fury on the coastal barrier, creating the string of islands. Texel’s size, proximity to the mainland, and vestiges of civilization including rather developed shopping districts, a fashionable seaside resort, and an efficient ferry and bus line, make it the destination of choice for many Dutch vacationers. We noticed immediately that the tourist industry catered to two demographic groups: Dutch and German. The flags of both nations flew from restaurants, and menus were often printed in both languages, often excluding English. We decided that Texel is probably not a big attraction for English speakers, especially those from Great Britain as they have many similar quaint towns and seaside resorts, but not so for the Germans.

Texel is home to Ecomare, a wildlife museum, rescue hospital and wildlife retirement home of sorts. Located amid the dunes near the North Sea, Ecomare is a sprawling assortment of buildings and outdoor enclosures. As a seal sanctuary, Ecomare is home to more than a dozen permanent residents, blind or wounded warriors who could not survive re-entry to the wild. As a rescue hospital, the folks at Ecomare tend and return to the wild dozens of injured seals, porpoises, waterfowl and sea gulls every year.

Texel is known as “The Netherlands in a Nutshell.” From typical Dutch architecture in the towns to its very own brewery, from the many, many pubs to more bicycles and polders (soggy farm fields separated by small canals) than you can count, from tulip fields to beaches, dunes, and scrub landscapes, from all-too-familiar rainy weather to magnificent cloudscapes that have inspired generations of Dutch artists, Texel has earned it’s nickname.