Den Burg, Oudeschild, De Koog

The Wadden Sea is a unique piece of the Netherlands with a rich history and great appeal. This vast area runs from the Kop van Noord-Holland to the southwest of Denmark. Fresh river water and salt seawater converge here, creating an enormously rich biodiversity: up to 10,000 species of animals, plants and micro-organisms live here!

The Dutch and German part of the Wadden Sea has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009, due to its special biological, geological and cultural-historical value. In 2014, the Danish part was also added. It is one of the largest contiguous tidal areas in the world and is unique due to the dynamic interaction between sandbanks, mudflats, gullies and islands. For millions of migratory birds, the Wadden Sea is invaluable as a foraging, breeding and resting area. The continuous processes of tides, currents and sediment deposition create a landscape you will not find anywhere else in this magnitude.

Texel is the largest Dutch Wadden Sea island and lies on the southwestern edge of the Wadden Sea. The eastern side of Texel borders the Wadden Sea (with Oudeschild as its most famous port), while the western side looks out to the North Sea. At low tide, large parts of the seabed fall dry; you will see mud flats and sandbanks appear. Around Texel, these mudflats are particularly nutrient-rich, so many birds - such as curlews, oystercatchers and plovers - forage there. Moreover, in spring and autumn, millions of birds migrate across the Wadden Sea and perch on these ‘mudflat restaurants’. Several populations of seals (common and grey seal) also live in the Wadden Sea near Texel. They rest on drying sandbanks and hunt in the shallow waters.

As the Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, strict laws and regulations apply to protect this unique ecosystem. For instance, there are restrictions on (shell) fishing, gas drilling and certain tourist activities. On Texel itself, much attention is paid to sustainable tourism, so that the special natural values are preserved for the future.

Today, you will discover much of life on this special island in the Wadden Sea. You can watch seals and birds in their natural habitat and learn more about Texel's rich history in various museums. But above all, don't forget to enjoy the beautiful nature in the salt marshes, the polders and along the dyke - in short, the whole of Texel!

This Premium Cycle route was compiled by our editor: Désirée van Uffelen.