Island life: go to Texel
If you want to check off the Wadden in a cool way, everyone immediately says: Vlieland. Hip of course, happening too, but I still want to go over Texel with you. The island is large enough to keep you entertained for a good midweek. Texel does well in culinary terms, has nice shops and great beach bars. And if that’s not exciting enough for you, it’s also an option to jump out of a plane.
On Texel, that typical island vibe prevails and in the summer, a boat goes every half hour during the day to take you from land to island or vice versa. In twenty minutes, you’ll be on the Wadden with your car, which you can’t say for all islands. Texel is that island you might have visited before, but it’s really worth going again when you’re older. Here’s a nice checklist for when you go.
1) A beach walk by the lighthouse
You won’t find a wider beach than this. The tip of the island almost seems unnatural, it’s so elongated. Walk from the lighthouse to Beach Pavilion Kaap Noord and back again. Of course, it’s also allowed to plop down at the edge of the dunes. Just watch out for blokarts and beach kiters; there’s plenty to see at the tip.
2) Lunch, drinks, and hanging out at Paal 21
What a nice place Paal 21 is. You have to walk through the dunes before you can sit on the terrace with a Texel beer, but then you also get maximum enjoyment from the walk. The fake palm trees make it almost tropical, the team is non-stop cheerful, and I ordered the flammkuchen three times in one week. That says something.
3) Sleeping at B&B Miko
Eva and Nicola from Back to Nature recommended Miko's B&B as the best on Texel and honestly: it’s true. The B&B is located in the quiet part of De Koog (which is nice) next to the dunes. In five minutes, you’re at the beach. Every morning at nine o'clock, there’s a basket at the door with a delicious breakfast and a tip from Miko himself. That could very well be breakfast on the beach. But make sure to watch the sunset over the sea in the evening, because that view never gets boring.
4) Dining at the Worsteltent
At the farm, where three brothers used to wrestle each other out of the tent. It’s in the name. The Worsteltent is away from the hustle and bustle, but the locals know how to find it. It’s lovely to eat in the garden and there’s live music on Sunday afternoons. Eating tip: the bruschetta goes particularly well with a carafe of wine.
5) Breakfast at Lokaal 16
Before you go shopping in Den Burg, Lokaal 16 is a recommendation for breakfast. Enjoy with a newspaper in the garden of this cozy spot. If you order a good start, you can go for hours, but for the avocado millennials, there’s of course toast with egg and avocado.
6) Walking through the Muy and Slufter
The Slufter is such a piece of nature that I can keep looking at. The sea just didn’t want to give up this land and you can see that when you walk through it. I walked from Paal 21 through the Muy via the Slufter and back over the beach, then you actually have the best of Texel. The dunes, the Slufter, the beach, and finishing off with a Texel white beer on the terrace of Paal 21.
7) Jumping out of a plane or going to the spa
You can choose, because they are next to each other. Boutique hotel Texel has a delightful spa, where you can look over the Texel landscape from the jacuzzi. A hundred meters away, the daredevils step into a plane to view and jump over the island from above. Something for everyone.
