The Wadden Bird Festival is organized annually in May. The festival is an initiative of the Bird Information Centre Texel and Dunes of Texel National Park. The festival is open to all and includes a birdwatcher market, manned bird watching points, excursions, a binocular show and bird watching competition the Texel Big Day.

Spread your wings

‘There's a secret bird watcher in everyone’; that's the organisers' motto. With this in mind, the festival is a very low-threshold event. Whether you have never done any bird watching before or do it on a very regular basis, the festival’s excursions cater for every level of visitor. Join an experienced guide and discover the special bird species on Texel. Proceeds from the excursions each year go to a charity dedicated to bird protection.

Visit a bird viewing point

During the festival, several bird-watching points are manned by bird experts. They will be happy to tell you about the birds you can see through binoculars and the care of nature reserves.

Birder market

Take a look at the birder market in the Kikkertstraat and at the Waterplein in De Cocksdorp. Stroll past the various stalls with items for birdwatchers, artworks and second-hand books. Proceeds from the books will go to charity. There is also an extensive lecture programme for bird lovers, which is completely free to visit. On both the Saturday and Sunday of the festival, there will be plenty to see and do on the Waterplein and in the Bird Information Centre.

Pub quiz for bird lovers

For anyone who loves birds, a bit of friendly competition and a good time, there’s a pub quiz especially for bird lovers on Saturday evening (doors open at 7.45 pm). An evening full of fun questions, surprising facts, bird sounds and perhaps a few trick questions that will have even the most avid birdwatcher scratching their head for a moment. Everyone can join in! In groups that have already formed, or that you meet on the night. There are prizes for both the winner and the team that deserves a consolation prize. No registration is required.

Birdwatchers’ Dinner

A convivial evening is being organised on the Waterplein, in collaboration with Casa di Gio’s and De Rog, for all birdwatchers and nature lovers who wish to catch up over a delicious meal and a drink. The dinner (6.30–8.00 pm) will consist of a lavish buffet. The evening is open to everyone. All volunteers, stallholders and individual birdwatchers are welcome. You can register via the Wadden Bird Festival website.

The optics show

Did you get excited during an excursion and do you want to watch birds more often? Then good binoculars are indispensable. During the Wadden Bird Festival, you can test various binoculars in nature and get advice from professionals. The Optics Show is in the bird garden of the Bird Information Centre, but also on the Waterplein next to the Bird Information Centre.

Texel Big Day

During the Wadden Bird Festival, the Texel Big Day will also be organised. 24 hours of bird watching for a good bird cause (by bike or on foot)! Anyone can participate. Form a team to see as many birds as possible and raise as much money as possible.

Good cause 2026

The proceeds from the Wadden Bird Festival, including the Texel Big Day, will be allocated to the conservation of owls and other nocturnal birds in 2026. In 2026, the little owl was chosen as species of the year by Sovon and Vogelbescherming Nederland. This presented a dilemma for the organisers of the Wadden Bird Festival, as the little owl is not found on Texel. It was therefore decided to broaden the charity’s focus to include owls and other nocturnal birds. The money raised during the Wadden Bird Festival in 2026 will be donated to the Texel Bird Island Foundation. This Foundation will ensure that the funds are made available for the protection of these species.

More about birds on Texel