De Koog, Den Burg, Oudeschild

On Texel, water has been a quiet hero of beer history for centuries. The reason? The well water of Texel contained a relatively high amount of iron because it was slowly filtered through the boulder clay layers beneath the Hoge Berg. As a result, it stayed drinkable longer than water from elsewhere, a quality sailors appreciated.

Between the dunes, just outside Oudeschild, lie the Wezenputten. In the time of the VOC, thousands of litres of water were drawn here to supply ships anchored at the Reede of Texel, for their months-long journey to the East. The barrels were transported via the Skilsloot and over the dike to the harbour. The profits benefited the orphanage in Den Burg, hence the name Wezenputten.

That same quality of Texel water links the VOC ships to the breweries of today. What once kept the crew alive for months now forms the base for the beer brewed on Texel. It’s no coincidence that several breweries have set up their kettles here.

It also makes Texel the perfect setting for a terrace route past breweries and historical sites. In Museum Kaap Skil, you can see a scale model of the Reede, as well as the small money chest of the Wezenputten. And along the way there’s always time for a stop: for a Texel beer, or just a glass of Texel water.