Texel, island full of wings
De Koog, De Cocksdorp, Den Hoorn
Find out why Texel is a bird paradise! Spot spoonbills, black-tailed godwits and bitterns, follow the Bird Boulevard and get tips to photograph birds perfectly. Texel is a true bird paradise. Its coastal location, the alternation of wet and dry nature reserves and the open landscapes make the island a magnet for countless bird species. Not only do many birds breed here, but migratory birds also descend en masse in spring and autumn to rest and forage. Thanks to this huge variety, there is something special to spot all year round! One of the best places to watch birds is the Vogelboulevard, a collection of bird-rich Nature reserves along the east side of Texel. This strip runs from the ferry port in the south to the lighthouse in the north and includes more than 15 areas directly bordering the Wadden Sea. Here you will find, among others, Ottersaat, Dijkmanshuizen and De Schorren. The combination of mudflats, salt marshes and shallow water makes this an ideal place for waders such as the black-tailed godwit, redshank, ruddy godwit and dunlin. During high tide, they retreat en masse to resting places such as De Schorren, where they stand close together along the marsh edges, waiting for the water to recede. Where can you see which birds? The marshy areas of Het Alloo are home to birds such as the lapwing, white wagtail and wheatear. This area, with its open grasslands and wet meadows, mainly attracts insectivores and waders. In the wide reedbeds around the Horspolders and Kreeftepolder, bluethroats, reed buntings and the mysterious bittern nest. Here you have a chance to hear these birds before you see them, so listen carefully! One of Texel's three spoonbill colonies is located at Uitkijkplatform De Geul. These graceful birds return from Africa every spring and can be recognised by their long, spoon-shaped beak and graceful flight. You can often see them fishing in small groups in shallow water, waving their beaks from side to side through the water in search of sticklebacks and shrimps. Those who want to spot birds would do well to bring binoculars. Many species linger in the reed beds or stay at a safe distance from people, and without binoculars you will miss the details. The best times to see birds are in the early morning or late afternoon, when they are most active and the light is also perfect for photography. By staying calm and moving slowly, you stand the best chance of observing birds up close. Waders and other shorebirds are especially good to see during rising tides, when they move closer to the shore to look for food. Want to photograph birds with your smartphone? Then digiscoping is a handy technique: gently place your phone lens against the eyepiece lens of your binoculars and you can suddenly get birds much closer. Make sure your hands are as still as possible or use a tripod for extra stability. Don't have binoculars? Then try photographing birds in their environment, such as a spoonbill among the reeds or a group of waders along the tide line. This often produces surprisingly beautiful compositions! Whether you are an experienced birder or just want to enjoy nature, Texel offers endless opportunities to spot birds. Grab your binoculars and discover for yourself why this island is so popular with birds and bird lovers alike! This Premium Cycle route was compiled by our editor: Désirée van Uffelen.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Pelikaanweg , 1796 AZ Texel | 54.5 KM | |
|
From
70
to
16
|
1764 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head south | 1.3 KM | ||
| Turn left | 21 M | ||
| Turn right onto Randweg | 492 M | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
46
|
1391 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Ploeglanderweg | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 46 | 0 M | ||
|
From
46
to
15
|
527 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head southwest on Tureluursweg | 527 M | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
|
From
15
to
5
|
2547 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head southeast on Botgrasweg | 738 M | ||
| Continue right onto Rozendijk | 19 M | ||
| Continue left onto Westerslag | 7 M | ||
| Continue right onto Rozendijk | 992 M | ||
| Continue straight | 791 M | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
|
From
5
to
11
|
818 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head south on Jan Ayeslag | 19 M | ||
| Continue right onto Rommelpot | 799 M | ||
| You are now at section 11 | 0 M | ||
|
From
11
to
10
|
1079 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Rommelpot | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
|
From
10
to
9
|
383 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head east on Klif | 383 M | ||
| You are now at section 09 | 0 M | ||
|
From
9
to
8
|
1480 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head south on Naalrand | 230 M | ||
| Continue slightly right onto Mokweg | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 08 | 0 M | ||
|
From
8
to
6
|
1557 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Molwerk | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 06 | 0 M | ||
|
From
6
to
1
|
1222 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Molwerk | 835 M | ||
| Continue straight | 387 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
|
From
1
to
25
|
4217 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head southeast | 161 M | ||
| Turn left onto De Dageraad | 171 M | ||
| Continue right onto Noorder Haaks | 534 M | ||
| Continue straight | 2.9 KM | ||
| Continue onto De Rede | 461 M | ||
| Continue straight | 5 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
|
From
25
to
40
|
821 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head east on Redoute | 821 M | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
|
From
40
to
39
|
874 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head east on Redoute | 667 M | ||
| Continue left onto De Ruyterstraat | 207 M | ||
| You are now at section 39 | 0 M | ||
|
From
39
to
38
|
1097 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Trompstraat | 646 M | ||
| Continue left onto Loodssingel | 211 M | ||
| Continue right onto Heemskerckstraat | 91 M | ||
| Continue left onto Laagwaalderweg | 149 M | ||
| You are now at section 38 | 0 M | ||
|
From
38
to
37
|
3599 M | 3.6 KM | |
| Head east on Haven | 672 M | ||
| Turn left | 185 M | ||
| Continue straight | 2.6 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 110 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
|
From
37
to
36
|
2402 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head southeast | 2.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
|
From
36
to
35
|
2102 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head northeast | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 35 | 0 M | ||
|
From
35
to
34
|
2351 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head north | 2.1 KM | ||
| Continue onto Lancasterdijk | 6 M | ||
| Turn left onto Stuifweg | 242 M | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
|
From
34
to
32
|
5956 M | 6 KM | |
| Head east on Stuifweg | 242 M | ||
| Turn left onto Lancasterdijk | 2.5 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 2.6 KM | ||
| Continue onto Lancasterdijk | 87 M | ||
| Continue right onto Stengweg | 514 M | ||
| You are now at section 32 | 0 M | ||
|
From
32
to
31
|
2833 M | 2.8 KM | |
| Head north on Stengweg | 2.2 KM | ||
| Continue right onto Vuurtorenweg | 619 M | ||
| Continue slightly right onto Stengweg | 9 M | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
29
|
1673 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head west | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 29 | 0 M | ||
|
From
29
to
28
|
980 M | 1 KM | |
| Head south | 980 M | ||
| You are now at section 28 | 0 M | ||
|
From
28
to
27
|
3706 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head south | 3.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
22
|
3612 M | 3.6 KM | |
| Head southwest | 117 M | ||
| Continue onto Zanddijk | 3.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 22 | 0 M | ||
|
From
22
to
23
|
829 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head east | 829 M | ||
| You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
|
From
23
to
66
|
1381 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southwest | 1.1 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Waalenburgerdijkje | 266 M | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
|
From
66
to
65
|
1305 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head west on Oude Dijkje | 53 M | ||
| Turn left onto Waalenburgerdijkje | 761 M | ||
| Continue left onto Pijpersdijk | 81 M | ||
| Turn right | 410 M | ||
| You are now at section 65 | 0 M | ||
|
From
65
to
70
|
1973 M | 2 KM | |
| Head southwest | 1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Pelikaanweg | 941 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M |