Sheep barns

On the 'old land' of Texel sheep barns also occur. These barns were constructed because, before the land consolidation, the sheep farmers' pastures lay very dispersed and far from home. These barns were not used as folds as such, but only served to store hay and smaller tools.

The Texel sheep is winter-hardy and remains outdoors, even in really cold weather. The sheep will seek shelter near the barn or the garden wall. Nearly all of the sheep pens have their flat side (and the entrance) facing north east, because the wind on Texel comes mainly from the south west. The roof of a sheep barn is either thatched or tiled. The relatively low walls sometimes have small windows.

Monuments

Now that the pastures are used more and more for agricultural purposes, the farmers consider the sheep barns to be an 'obstacle'. Government subsidies for the preservation of the sheep barns can not prevent many of them deteriorating or even disappearing. A large number of pens is on the list of monuments, so at least they can be maintained well.