Surroundings

The best description of Texel

A miniature Netherlands. It sounds cliché but this is the best description of Texel in a nutshell. We have the most beautiful and the sweetest of the Netherlands brought together in less than 175 square kilometres. The most beautiful bird area? That is less than 50 metres from Hotel Brasserie Rebecca.

A beautiful pine forest with deciduous and pine trees combined, rolling landscapes, sleek farmland, dunes and beach. Seven Villages. Lively and restful. Birds and lambs. Sun and sea. All accessible from Hotel Brasserie Rebecca.

The Beach on Texel

If you want to go to the beach on the island of Texel, you will be spoiled by the variety of choice. There is sand, sea and there are abundant beautiful hiking trails through the dunes. You can choose for the lively beaches where the large pavilions are. No need for bells and whistles, snobbery people and occupied beach chairs? Walk 100 meters away from the pavilion (beach empty, people gone), and take a walk on The Hors. With a little luck you will see a curious seal.

Sheep and lambs on the Hoge Berg

In the spring, the island has more sheep than people. What? Yes, Really. This is mainly due to the more than 11,000 lambs that adorn the meadows in and around the nature reserve of the Hoge Berg. Texel is a real sheep island. Small working farmers breeding the friendly animals on authentic farms. Near Hotel Brasserie Rebecca there is also a sheep farm. After two minutes of walking you will reach the edge of a meadow full of bleating balls of wool with paws.

Would you like to completely immerse yourself in the sheep occurrence? Then take the lambs’ route on and around the Hoge Berg, a wonderful experience. Please use a bicycle or travel on foot, because the Hoge Berg is not suitable for dozens of tourists in cars.

Cycling paths on Texel

Texel has no less than 140 km of cycle paths perfectly connected to each other, they guide you through all the locations of the island. A must see and do is the dike cycle path along the Wadden Sea side of the island resulting in direct views of the sea and the birds. This cycle path leads you from the northern village De Cocksdorp to the nearby fishing village of Oudeschild… Did you book one of the packages at Hotel Brasserie Rebecca? You will get a cycle map. In a select number of arrangements we have bicycles included, ready to use.

Leave the car on Texel

Many guests leave their vehicle at the hotel for a reason, namely cycling and walking is by far the most comfortable way to explore the island. You will arrive at the most beautiful spots. And have all the time to soak up the sounds, scents and colours.

It’s nice to plan a beautiful route in advance but it is not really necessary. Each route has subtle signage so losing your way on our quaint island is not very likely to happen.

Through the dunes and the forest runs an extensive network of hiking and cycling trails. Here you can suddenly come across a thriving heath, an ascending pheasant or a group of grazing rabbits

On the Hoge Berg you can walk over the rolling countryside and between the ‘tuunwallen’ (turf barrier). The paved roads are more appropriate for cycling. The Hoge Berg is enticing enough to explore, even without the lambs.

Waalenburg at Hotel Brasserie Rebecca

Texel is not only a sheep island, but also a bird Valhalla. How is that so? First of all, our island is located very strategically on the route of many migratory bird species. They choose our island during migration to rest. Nature conservation organizations and the Texel residents do their utmost to ensure that the animals enjoy a few days of much needed rest. Meanwhile every year hundreds of bird watchers with binoculars watch the birds eat the delicious food from the rich soil from a distance.

Nature reserve Waalenburg is one of the spots where the birds get ready for the second part of their trip to the south. In addition, Texel, the Wadden Sea Area outside the dikes and the salt marshes function as a nursery. Every year, hundreds of bird species nurture their new born. The Spoonbill colony in De Schorrren is a pleasure to view at a distance (although young spoonbills are not the prettiest of baby’s). The breeding ground for large terns can also be found behind the Waddendike.

The pastures of polder Waalenburg are a popular location for bird couples with youngsters. Hotel Rebecca just happens to be situated a few dozen metres away from this bird Walhalla. In polder WaalenBurg there is just so much to take in. Here you can see meadow birds in abundance. The meadows are colored with orchids, the large rattler and real cuckoo flowers.