VOC locations on Texel
Loodsmansduin
At 24.3 metres above sea level, the Loodsmansduin is the highest dune on Texel. On top of the dune people would keep lookout for ships to pilot in. As soon as a ship came in sight which needed guiding past the dangerous sandbanks on the way to the Zuider Zee or the North Sea, a contest started between the pilot boats. The first pilot to reach a ship secured the job.
Anchorage for sea- going vessels
The Loodsmansduin was right next to the sea in the VOC era. In those days, the Mokbaai was anchorage for sea-going vessels waiting for favourable winds to depart. Depending on the tide and wind the whole stretch of sea from Den Helder to Terschelling was also used as an anchorage.
Source of income
Piloting ships became a source of income for the villagers of Den Hoorn during the VOC era. In the year 1783, 1,805 ships were piloted off Texel. This livelihood soon ended after the construction of the North Holland Canal (1819 - 1824) and the North Sea Canal (1865 - 1875). Furthermore, a state pilot service was implemented in the mid-19th century at the entrance to Texel.
Observation post
In 1938 the Dutch army built an observation post on the Loodsmansduin. The Molengat, the stretch of water between Texel and the sandbar De Razende Bol (also known as Noorderhaaks), needed to be able to be bombarded in order to defend the harbour of Den Helder. On the Loodsmansduin, the command post of the battery Den Hoorn was established. The cannons were lined up somewhat more to the north, in the Bollekamer area.
Provincial Monument
The battery was declared a Provincial Monument as one of the last examples of Dutch fortress construction and was restored in 1994. In the bunker that the Germans built in the Second World War, a part has been closed off to serve as a hibernation spot for bats. This space has a constant temperature and high humidity.
Fort De Schans
Even before the days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company), Texel's roadstead was an important access and exit route for the ships from towns on the Zuider Zee. To protect this route, William of Orange took the initiative to construct the De Schans fort. De Schans was built around 1574. Barracks and storage rooms were built in the courtyard.
Bomb- proof storage
In 1780 the fort could sleep 320 men. A bomb-proof storage room was built in the northern bastion, in which 3,000 kg of gunpowder could be stored. During the French occupation this storage room was replaced by a new gunpowder store. The sluice near the fort made it possible to flood the lands surrounding the fort in times of emergency.
Executions
Fleet admiral Tromp regularly held councils of war in De Schans. Convictions varied from discharge of ranks and honour by breaking the gun or sword at the culprit's feet, to the death penalty. Executions were performed on the spot.
Napoleon
In 1811, Napoleon paid a visit to De Schans, upon which he had the fort enlarged and reinforced with two adjoining forts. The fort Lunette, bordering on Oudeschild was situated around 700 metres east of De Schans and the fort Redoute lies around 400 metres west of De Schans. The Lunette and the Redoute consisted of single earth walls and served as cover for De Schans during possible attacks.
Around 1930, the Lunette, the Redoute and a part of De Schans were levelled to use the soil for dyke improvement.
Tours
The fort De Schans is owned by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten (the Dutch Association for Nature Conservation) and was restored in phases. It is freely accessible. For tours around De Schans, please contact the Maritime and Beachcombers Museum.
Gallows Field
At the crossroads Schansweg/Zuidhaffel lies the so-called 'Galgenlandje' (Gallows Field). This used to be where the gallows stood, that the criminals were hanged from. The gallows were visible from Texel's roadstead and were a warning for the crew of the ships there. The gallows were also used as beacons for the sailors.
Brakestein
Huize Brakestein used to be called 'the House by the Well', but in 1745 was named after the Braak family, who lived here for a long time. The Braak family had various members in high positions, especially in the maritime sector. Brakestein was sold to Leendert den Berger in 1776. He had a garden planted in French style. In this garden, there were statues of Ceres and Neptune, among others, which can now be found in the garden of Studio De Vermaning in Den Hoorn.
Rebuilding
In the second half of the 19th century Brakestein was in a state of disrepair. The owner used the rooms for wool and grain storage. At the end of the nineteenth century Brakestein was so run down that part of it was demolished and the house was rebuilt into its present form.
Painted wooden room divider
In one of the rooms at Hotel De Lindeboom in Den Burg is a painted wooden room divider, which most probably originates from Brakestein.
In the 1960's the room dividers, which by then were under national preservation order, were preserved and one of them was restored to its former glory. After restoration, this room divider was placed in Hotel De Lindeboom in Den Burg, where it can be viewed. During the restoration of this room divider old grain kernels were found. The preserved screen is still in storage.
Orphan's Wells
Opposite Brakestein are the Wezenputten, or Orphans' wells. These were owned by the orphanage, which sold much of the water from the wells to the ships leaving from the Texel Roads. The money box in which the profits were kept is now on display in the Maritime and Beachcombing museum.
The high iron content (shown by the brownish tint) meant that the water stayed fresh for longer than water found elsewhere. The water supplies would be enough for a journey of nine months, but most of the ships also stopped for fresh supplies at Table Bay at the Cape of Good Hope.
Skilsloot
An average VOC ship with a crew of 250 had more than 100,000 litres of water on board. The barrels of water were transported by rowing boat along de Skilsloot stream and then hoisted over the dyke to the sea. In 1795 de Skilsloot was extended to the harbour which was constructed in 1795, meaning that the barrels no longer had to be hoisted over the dyke.
Sheep and pigs
The ships also took Texel sheep and pigs with them as provisions for the journey. Ideally these were pregnant animals so that a succulent fresh lamb or piglet could be served on route.
Pancakes
Ducks, caught in the duck decoy at Westergeest, were also popular provisions. The ducks were lightly smoked and salted. According to the lease contract the neighbours of the duck decoy were not allowed to make any noise when the wind was blowing in the direction of the duck decoy. Mat beating and pancake frying were also not permitted. Ducks seemingly do not like the smell of pancakes.
Gin neighbourhood
The end of de Skilsloot where the water barrels were hoisted over the dyke was a hub of activity. Inns and bars were housed here and the area was known as Jeneverbuurtje, (Gin neighbourhood). The official street name is now ‘t Buurtje.
Kollegat
Further along in Oudeschild was a narrow alleyway known as het Kollegat (gat= passageway, kol= prostitute). After months at sea the sailors sometimes squandered their hard earned money here in a matter of days. The VOC employees who received their pay in Amsterdam, Hoorn or Enkhuizen, spent their earnings elsewhere.
Many VOC crew, helmsmen and captains originated from Texel. After arrival on the roads they hurried off to their wives and children on the island.
Aagje Luytsen
Aagje Luytsen was one of the Texel wives who often had to wait for years on end for the return of her husband, a VOC helmsman sailing the China route. During his absence she wrote him letters which she sent by way of other VOC ships to the East. Despite the great distance the letters reached their destination.
Harman Kikkert, the helmsman in question, treasured the letters from Aagje. When his ship was captured by the enemy during the Fourth English War, the English confiscated the crew's private correspondence. Aagje's letters were found in an English archive and they tell much about Texel life at the end of the eighteenth century.
The white church in Oudeschild
The white church, built in 1650, was predominantly visited by seafarers who were working on the Texel Roads. In 1740 the church was enlarged. The church owns three beautiful chandeliers, of which the first was donated by Admiral Cornelis Tromp.
Michiel Adriaansz de Ruyter didn't want to upstaged and donated an even larger
chandelier. The third chandelier was most probably donated by Tromp's widow. The church also owns a Ten Commandments plaque dating from 1651, donated by the Zaanse shipper Van Glaske.
The Seven Provinciën
De Ruyterstraat is named after the admiral ship belonging to Michiel de Ruyter and here you will find the Hotel De Zeven Provinciën. There has been an inn here since the seventeenth century, when Admiral de Ruyter and other famous seafarers stayed whilst their ships waited on the Texel Roads for favourable winds.
Maritime history
The nineteenth century grain warehouse is a listed building and it is here that The Maritime and Beachcombers' Museum is housed. Here you can learn about the maritime history of Texel. The visitor can experience at first hand life under water in a ‘shipwreck'. Sound, light and the unusual objects which are on display here make this space a unique experience.
Scale model
The museum also houses a scale model of the Texel Roads anno 1650. A game can be played in which a ship has to be sailed safely across the dangerous Zuider Zee to the Texel Roads.
In the beachcombing department of the museum a large collection of objects can be viewed which have been found by beachcombers during years gone by. The development of Oudeschild, the fishing industry and the lifeboats and pilot boats, is portrayed in the museum grounds in life size Texel houses and workshops.
Poor economic conditions
As a result of wars, poor economic conditions and maritime developments, the harbour of Oudeschild went through hard times after 1780. This resulted in the harbour being made smaller to save maintenance costs. The rise of the fishing industry and the start of the ferry service made the expansion of the harbour necessary.
Tourism and N.V. TESO
Growth in the tourism industry in the years after the Second World War led to the expansion of the ferry service fleet N.V.TESO, especially for car driving tourists. The transport service grew so rapidly that plans were made for a new harbour. After a fierce battle it was decided that the ferry harbour would be moved to ‘t Horntje, halving the crossing time.