Netherlands

Before 3 PM, we arrived in Den Helder, where the ferry departs directly to Texel Island. We made it at the last minute—luckily, the ferry ride is only about 25 minutes.

 

The Accommodation Struggle

The first challenge we had to solve was where to sleep. Since it was already October 14 and the island was experiencing strong winds, camping outside wasn’t an option (especially since we weren’t equipped for it). Our initial plan was to stay in a traditional Texel yurt, but after failing to find any availability online and receiving no response to our calls, we decided to check in person.

 

Unfortunately, the yurts were located within a campsite owned by someone else, and despite the ladies at the information office doing their best to help, there was no availability. The local campsite was also fully booked, but at least we received a ton of leaflets with recommendations on what to see on the island.

 

I tried Booking.com and, on a recommendation, called the local info center. The lady on the phone offered us the only available accommodation—for 4 people, at a whopping €700! Instead, she suggested we try Stayokay Hostel Texel, where we finally learned the real reason for the lack of accommodation—we had chosen the wrong weekend.

 

It turned out that a blues festival was happening on the island, with live performances across various venues—something we would have loved to attend, but unfortunately, everything was already overbooked.

 

For a moment, we considered sleeping outside, but thankfully, we didn’t—because by morning, there was heavy rain and even hail. For once, we made the reasonable choice and booked the first available hotel at a normal price before heading off to see Texel’s lighthouse.

 

Beer Tasting and Blues Festival Attempts

Despite its small size (586 km²), Texel proudly boasts two local breweries—Tesselaar and Texels—so, naturally, we had to visit one of them.

 

We chose Texels Brewery, where we each got a tasting plate to sample all the beers they had on tap. We also picked up a few bottled beers to take home.

 

After checking into our hotel, we headed back to the Stayokay Hostel to see if we could still catch a blues performance—but unfortunately, we had arrived too late. Instead, we tasted beer from Tesselaar and then returned to our hotel for the night.

 

Seal Sanctuary & Local Texel Products

After breakfast, we visited Ecomare—a seal sanctuary and marine life museum.

 

Ecomare was created to help sick or injured seals—many of them are found poisoned from plastic waste or trapped in fishing nets. The center provides them with medical care, food, and rehabilitation before determining whether they’re fit to return to the wild. The facility also actively advocates against seal hunting, educating visitors on the dangers seals face in the modern world.

 

Apart from tourism and beer, Texel is also known for its cheese production and other dairy-based products (milk, creams, soaps, and shampoos) from cows, sheep, and goats. To experience this firsthand, we visited a local cheese factory in Den Burg and sampled some of their products.

 

Back to the Mainland – A Quick Stop at the Maritime Museum

By the time we finished in Den Burg, it was already getting late, and we still wanted to visit the Maritime Museum in Den Helder. So, we took the ferry back to the mainland and headed straight there.

 

The museum was massive, and the man at the entrance immediately warned us that we wouldn’t be able to see everything in just two hours before closing time.

 

Even so, we managed to explore a lot—including a real submarine, which was definitely not designed for claustrophobic people. We also toured two naval ships, where I quickly realized that I would never want to be treated in the ship’s medical bay, but I wouldn’t mind claiming the commander’s cabin for myself.

 

Texel turned out to be an unexpected adventure, full of last-minute changes, beer discoveries, and seal rescue stories. Despite the challenges with accommodation, the island had plenty to offer, and our trip was absolutely worth it.

 

Fun Fact: Texel – The Island with More Sheep Than People!

Texel is often called “the sheep island” because it has more sheep than human residents! With a population of around 13,500 people, the island is home to over 14,000 sheep—meaning there are literally more sheep than humans roaming the fields.

 

This has led to Texel’s famous lamb products, including Texel lamb meat (considered a delicacy in the Netherlands), high-quality wool, and even sheep’s milk cheese. Visitors can even visit local sheep farms and experience sheep-shearing demonstrations or bottle-feed lambs in spring. So, while Texel may be known for its beaches, lighthouses, and breweries, its fluffy four-legged residents have certainly helped put it on the map!