Complete tour of Texel Island

Start at “De Marel”, the visitor centre for the “Polder Waal en Burg” Nature Reserve, which is situated a short distance off the Nieuwlanderweg.

(S/E) Join the “Loopie Waalenburg”, a cycle path that continues from the access road to the visitor centre. Stay on the cycle path until you reach a road. Cross it and continue straight ahead until you reach another junction.

(1) Turn left onto the Waalder Weg, the road linking Den Burg to Oosterend. Turn left onto the cycle path. At the roundabout, head straight ahead and, shortly afterwards, take the road on the right, Spanger Weg. At point 57, turn right onto Spanger Weg and continue to point 59.

(2) Take the road on the left – Dijkmanshuizen – to point 37.

(3) Join the cycle path on the other side of the sea wall, on the sea side. Turn right and head to point 38, located at the port of Oudeschild.

(4) Follow the cycle path along the seafront, on the other side of the harbour. Pass point 40 to reach point 25.

(5) Turn left, still following the cycle path, until you reach ‘T Horntje. Turn right and head for point 01.

(6) Head towards point 06, following the road leading to Den Hoorn. Cross the road fairly quickly at the traffic lights, which have a push-button system accessible to cyclists. Continue straight ahead and turn right at the next cycle path junction.

(7) At point 06, leave the road and follow the cycle path to the left until you reach point 08.

(8) Turn right. At the entrance to Den Hoorn, take the first street on the left to reach point 09.

(9) Continue to the left until you reach the next junction, point 10.

(10) Turn right and follow the cycle path. At point 11, go straight on to reach point 05.

(11) Turn left, enter the woods, then take the^second road on the right. Ignore all paths on both the left and right and you’ll arrive at a small restaurant. Carry on to the next junction.

(12) Carry on straight ahead to reach point 15, staying on the main road at all times (incorrectly positioned on the OSM map).

(13) Turn left and continue along this road. At point 16, turn left, leave the woods and reach point 17.

(14) Carry on straight ahead. The small road soon runs alongside a woodland and, further on, a cycle path lies just behind the first trees; it’s easy to join it. Carry on straight ahead until you reach point 20.

(15) Turn right, then take the^first road on the left to avoid the campsite and the golf course. At point 21, head straight on to reach point 22.

(16) Leave the road and follow the cycle path which climbs to the left, into the dunes. Follow it straight on to point 31, passing points 27, 28 and 29.

(17) Before continuing to the right, head to the lighthouse on the left, at the tip of the island.

(18) Return to point 31 via the same route.

(17) Carry on straight ahead along the lower road. At the crossroads, turn left.

(19) Carry on along the road below the sea wall until you reach point 32.

(20) Head along the road opposite, following a canal on your right, until you reach the first junction.

(21) Turn right onto the Hoofdweg and follow the long road straight ahead. After about 7 km, you’ll reach a cycle path at a T-junction.

(22) Leave the road and take the cycle path on the right. At the roundabout, turn left, then left again, and head for the visitor centre of the “Polder Waal en Burg” Nature Reserve (S/E).

This route partly follows the northern circular route of the island, with a modification at the end of the route. – (Northern circular route of Texel, no. 64880762).

(4) Oudeschild: catering facilities available. Accessible toilets at the museum on the main street, on the left.

(7) Use the push-button to change the traffic lights.

(9) Den Hoorn: places to eat.

(15) De Koog: places to eat.

(16) You’ll join the island’s northern route (Texel Island Circular Route No. 64880762). Follow it in the opposite direction by turning left.
Alternatively, you can continue in the direction described – i.e. straight ahead – to complete only the southern loop of the island.

(19) You can also follow the northern route in the opposite direction by heading up onto the sea wall. This replaces the end of the main route and makes the walk longer but more enjoyable. Please note: after the harbour, rejoin the cycle path between the sea and the sea wall.

(20) Toilets (when they’re open...).

(22) Another way to reach the Marel Nature Centre: turn left, then right, and take the cycle path leading into the Waal en Burg Polder until you rejoin the original path, which you should then follow in the opposite direction.

Depending on the prevailing wind, choose one direction or the other, bearing in mind that the route on the western side of the island runs further inland and is more sheltered. If the wind is from the south or south-east, do the route in the opposite direction. If extending the route using the option described above, start with the ‘Circular Loop of Texel’ section (no. 64880762) up to (16), then follow the main route in the opposite direction.

(S/E) De Waal: ‘De Marel’ Nature Centre.

(4) Oudeschild: Kaap Skil Museum and the harbour.

(15) De Koop: Écomare, seal rescue centre; ‘Duinen van Texel’ National Park.

(20) De Cocksdorp: Texel Aviation and War Museum.