Is it the first time on Texel, the third and already completely hooked? Spring break brings a varied mix of tourists to the island. It is not very busy yet, but it is certainly visitors who consciously choose Texel for the peace, space, birds and lambs.
Jara, Wouter and their Dibbes from Schagen stay with mother-in-law Sophia from Julianadorp in a holiday home near De Koog. Jara: “We have been to Texel more often, even though it was a while ago. We are now there during spring break, getting a breath of fresh air with the dog. We live in the Noordkop, in Schagen and Julianadorp and yet you are really out for a while when you are on Texel. It is striking that it is so quiet now, even though it is a holiday.”
Vacancy
“We are here in the center of Den Burg and in the summer this square is packed, but now there is no one there! You also see that houses are empty here, probably for renting out to tourists, then no one lives there anymore. We think so It’s a real shame. We’ve even looked at whether we could live here. We’d like to, but that’s really not affordable. We’re here now to do a treasure hunt, but our Dibbes is getting a bit impatient, so we walk on again, haha.”
“It’s fantastic here; the birds, the landscape… And the people, yes, you take them into the bargain.” Two bird watchers from Amsterdam are walking through the Slufter valley tightly packed. They prefer to visit Texel in spring and autumn because of the bird migration. “It’s a bit of a shame that there are quite a few residents of Texel who are like: ‘It’s ours, you’re just tourists.’ As Amsterdammers, we don’t go to the Rijksmuseum to say: This is ours and you just have to watch what you’re doing?”
More nature
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the people of Amsterdam: “Texel is always beautiful. They really do their best. More and more nature is added. We haven’t been there for a few years. Then you arrive by boat, take your another road and hey: Some farms have disappeared and there is some nature again.”
They are on Texel for the third time; Erik, and Marianne and their children Joël and Marthe from Ede: They chose Texel for practical reasons: it is easily accessible by car and there is a lot to do for the children. “We don’t like the crowds,” says Erik, “but it does have the least island feeling of the Wadden.” They like that – although the largest Wadden Island – it is still relatively small. “You can see a lot in one day. We went to the lighthouse and a sheep farm.”
When the sun shines
They regret the increased commercialism. Marianne: “The island is increasingly geared towards tourists. Such a sheep farm as well. No problem paying, but it is mainly a shop, restaurant and then also a third sheep. That is out of balance. We miss the authentic and that gives a different island feeling. And yes: when the sun is shining, the beach is already enough.”
NH360 about tourism on Texel
Has Texel reached the limit of tourism? NH hopes to receive an answer to this. The stories come from all sides: 360 degrees.
From 28 February to 3 March NH will move part of the editorial team to Den Burg. This week we can be found daily in the Glass Palace.
Do you want to join the conversation? Everyone is welcome to come and share their story with us. You can also just take a look. Our editorial staff can be found from tomorrow in the Glass Palace, located in the Wezentuin park in Den Burg.
All stories that are made from Texel can be recognized by the NH 360º design above the articles. A collection of the stories can be found at nhnieuws.nl/360texel.
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