National Park

Combined influences

The National Park Dunes of Texel, takes up the entire area of dunes on Texel including the woods. The dune landscape of Texel is the result of the age-long combined action of soil and climate, wind and water, plants and animals and man. The combined influences make it a unique nature reserve in some respects.

Unique in the Netherlands

The highest nature values can be found in the Horspolders and surroundings, in the Slufter, in wet dune valleys and in areas where fresh water leaves the dunes to the surrounding salt marshy areas or the adjoining polders. Its ecological quality is unique in the Netherlands.

The dunes of Texel are on the west side of the island. The dune area is widest near Den Hoorn, but De Koog is protected from the sea by only two rows of dunes. At the end of the last century, a ditch was dug for the drainage of the dunes.

Dewatering

These days, such a violation of the In 'Texel, the bird island' (1957) J. Drijver writes: 'One of the greatest disasters to hit the bird population, was undeniably the drainage of the long range of dune pools and marshes which stretched from the Blekersvallei, northwest of the Fonteinsnol (nol = dune) to the edge of the Pompevlak, southwest of Den Hoorn, between beach posts 16 and 7. Dune landscape could certainly be prevented, but the considerations, which led to the considerably young dune lakes the Muy and the Geul to be declared nature reserve by the state, were completely unknown to the Dutch people and the government around eighty years ago'.

Domain for birds and plants

Until 1987, this area was used as water-collection area. For this, the aforementioned drainage ditch had been dammed up, and nature was able to restore itself somewhat. In 1993, the activities to restore the entire area to its original state were completed. The swampy, partially flooded area is once again the domain of dozens of bird and plant species.

Limestone in the dunes

Every dune area contains rather large differences in flora. These are caused by the humidity level and the climate, but mainly by the amount of limestone in the dunes. The dunes of Texel do not contain any limestone in principle, but the content may vary strongly. In the older dunes, the limestone has sunk to the deeper layers of soil over the course of the years. Therefore, these dunes are covered with plants that do not require a lot of calcium, such as sand sedge.

Younger dunes

Then there are plants growing in the younger dunes with more limestone near the sea strip, such as the sea buckthorn, which need such soil. In addition, the wind is most strong on the sea strip and the salt content of the air is highest there.

The Dutch Forestry Commission

National parks are special areas of attention of the Dutch government.
The following objectives apply:

 

• Preservation and development of nature
• Information and education
• Nature-oriented recreation
• Research

Visitors are more than welcome at the National Park Dunes of Texel. has opened an extensive network of footpaths. There are also cycling and bridle paths. Especially in the woods, there are many provisions. You will find playing meadows, barbecue areas and a mountainbiking area.

You will find more information on the websites The Dutch Forestry Commission and National Park the Dunes of Texel.