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Dunes National Park at Texel. Photo by René Bongard on

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Dunes of Texel National Park

Duinen van Texel National Park or most popularly known as Dunes of Texel National Park is a national park located on the North Holland island of Texel, Netherlands. The park was established in the 1900s but gained national park status in 2002. It is governed by Staatsbosbeheer and the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

The national park covers approximately twenty-three kilometres. It is an all-dune system on the western side of the island and large coastal plains.

The northern and southern points of this island also form part of the Dunes of Texel National Park. This great park comprises sixteen different areas which had dune types of ecosystems.

Some of the areas of the national park serve as a breeding area for common spoonbills. This is the oldest recorded island on Dune of Texel National Park.

Various species of birds can be found in this national park. It is not common to find animals in the Dunes of Texel National Park, but rabbits, hares, hedgehogs, mice, stoats and voles can be spotted.

Grey seals and common seals are usually spotters in the beach’s waters. Porpoises searching for food and swimming in the sea can also be spotted here.

Here are the top 10 Fascinating Facts about the Dunes of Texel National Park:

1. Animals are not Common but Some can be Spotted in the Dune

Dune of Texel National Park is a unique national park that has its kind of natural environment. It is known that wild animals are found in the national park, but that is different at Dunes of Texel National Park.

It is uncommon to spot large animals at this national park. However, some small animals can be easily found at this park.

Hares, rabbits, hedgehogs, mice, stoats and voles are mostly spotted in this national park. Other than these land animals, various types of seals and porpoises are regularly spotted on the shores of Dunes.

2. Several Special Species of Birds make Birdwatching Interesting

This is a photo or sound file made in Dunes of Texel National Park in the Netherlands, with the main subject of the file in the category: panorama photo. Photo by Alex76 on

Dunes of Texel National Park is so special not for wild animals viewing, but for the interesting nature. Bird watching is one of the fun activities tourists do while on their tour.

There are several special species of birds in the Dunes. The commonly sighted include greylag goose, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, eider, scoter, spoonbill, oystercatcher and many more. Other passerine birds that inhabit the dunes include the starling, northern wheatear, whinchat, white wagtail, western yellow wagtail and meadow pipit.

3. There’s an Iconic Lighthouse Texel

Lighthouse of Texel. Photo by Femmark on

Tourists enjoy various types of scenes and wildlife in National parks. With a little variety of wildlife in the Dunes of Texel National Park, there is something spectacular.

The lighthouse Texel is the most iconic attraction site in the park. This is a red tower that is capped off with a white dome which houses the light. It adds more picturesque characters to the coastal landscapes.

4. The Park has Suitable Walking and Hiking Trails

This is a photo or sound file made in Dunes of Texel National Park in the Netherlands, with the main subject of the file in the category: of humans in nature. Photo by IngevGelder on

The Dunes of Texel National Park are more remarkable with the landscapes that attract tourists. There are suitable walking and hiking trails for exploring the dunes and coastal plains.

These trails are colour-coded in blue, red, green and yellow signs. During the bird breeding seasons, these paths are closed to prevent disturbing the birds and nests.

5. The Purpose of the Park was to Protect the Dunes of Texel Island and Coastal Plains

The purposes of national parks are to secure and safeguard national resources from any threats to wildlife and natural landscapes. Dunes of Texel National Park was also established for this purpose.

Protection of the coastal plains and dunes of Texel island was one of the major purposes of this park. Serving as a bird sanctuary during the nesting and breeding period is the purpose of the dunes park.

6. One of the Sections is used for Military Training

Texel – De Koog – Strandslag Paal 21 – View ESE on Nature Reserve De Nederlanden. Photo by Txllxt TxllxT on

There are sixteen sections of the Dunes of Texel National Park. The Hors section which is in the southern part is majorly owned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

The terrain of the Hors is for amphibious training of military personnel. De Hors was created because of past shoals walking on the island with the last one spotted in 1910.

7. Exmoor Ponies and Highland Cattle Grace in the Wet Dune Valley

Another notable section of Dunes of Texel National Park is De Geul. This is the wet dune valley where a dam was built to extract drinking water.

At De Geul, common spoonbills inhabit and breed because it is a fish-laden area. The Exmoor Ponies and Highland cattle usually graze freely in this region.

8. Seawater Streams In and Out of One of the Dunes Park Section

Beach on Texel at sunset. Photo by Heinonlein on

De Slufter is a major site of the Dunes of Texel National Park. This is a wide valley that has a connection to the North Sea.

Seawater usually streams in and out of De Slufter at various times. When there is a high tide, seawater streams into De Slufter through creeks.

During low tides, the seawater streams out of the creeks. The creek has moved more in the northern direction.

In May 2004, an intervention of creating a new creek was put in place because the original creek was damaging the northern side of the dunes. After the major changes, seawater only gets to the creek and small lakes in varied moments.

9. Huge Vegetation Grows in the Dunes

The North Sea has made several changes in the Dunes of Texel National Park. Various types of vegetation grow in the Dunes. Salt marsh plants majorly grow here.

In June every year, the area is painted purple mainly because of the Sea-lavender. Later in October, the area turns red because of Common glasswort plants. Other than these plants, Sea-buckthorn also grows in the dunes.

10. An Illustrated Book About Flora and Fauna on the Island was Made

Larus argentatus at Texel. Photo by WeeJeeVee on

Dunes of Texel National Park had several interests from various groups of people. Botanist Jac P. Thijsse was one among the people interested in the Dunes.

In 1927, the botanist made an illustrated book about the fauna and flora of the Dunes of Texel National Park. This book outlines the environmental value of this island.

This is one of the most significant natural resources of the Netherlands that attracts thousands of tourists every year. Hiking, bird watching and more activities at Dunes of Texel National Park always interest families and other visitors to this park.