On Texel you dine at island pace: you can eat well in all seven villages of the island, from a cosy bistro to a refined restaurant, often with island produce on the menu.
Den Burg, the culinary capital: the largest village, Den Burg, is known as Texel's culinary capital for good reason, with the most restaurants and terraces around the Weverstraat and the convivial square De Groeneplaats.
Relaxed dining in De Koog: the resort of De Koog excels in atmospheric eateries right by the beach, with numerous restaurants, lunchrooms and terraces along the Dorpsstraat, each with its own character.
Fresh from the harbour: in the fishing village of Oudeschild you eat fresh fish, shrimp and oysters straight from the cutters in the harbour, while villages like Den Hoorn and Oosterend offer quieter, more atmospheric spots.
Honest and from the island: Texel is known for delicious, honest food, made by hand with respect for nature, from the world-famous Texel lamb and sheep's cheese to superbly fresh asparagus.
Regional products: the taste of Texel
If you really want to taste the island, look out for the many Texel regional products, recognisable by the Echt Texels Produkt and Waddengoud quality labels, which guarantee that the product is made by hand on the island itself.
The world-famous lamb: around 10,000 sheep graze on Texel, and Texel lamb has been the island's speciality since the 1930s. From early June it is widely available at restaurants, butchers and farm shops.
Cheese and dairy from the island: from sheep's and cow's milk the Texel farms make creamy cheeses, dairy and even craft ice cream, on sale directly at the cheese farms and farm shops.
The famous Juttertje: the Texel drink par excellence is the Juttertje, a smooth herbal bitter with all of fourteen herbs, distilled at the De Wit distillery and traditionally served from a stone jug.
Texel beer brewed on the island: on the island the Texel Brewery in Oudeschild uses its own dune water to brew a range of beers, the most famous being the Skuumkoppe, a dark wheat beer you'll find on almost every Texel tap.
From field and distillery: let yourself be surprised too by Texel asparagus, mustard from home-grown seed, salty Wadden potatoes and the craft Texel gin and vodka, flavoured with sea buckthorn and cranberry.
Restaurants
For many people, not having to cook is one of the greatest luxuries of a holiday, and Texel. offers plenty of scope for it.
For every moment: pull up a chair in a pancake house, a restaurant or an eetcafé. From a quick, tasty bite to a beautifully prepared multi-course dinner, there is something in every price range.
Breakfast and lunch: many hotels and eateries serve breakfast until 10:00, and in the Netherlands lunch is usually taken between 12:00 and 14:00.
Dinner and later: dinner is generally served between 17:00 and 20:00. Many restaurants close around 22:00, but various venues, terraces and bars still serve dishes and snacks after that.
Current opening hours: for a full overview with details and opening times for each restaurant, see TheFork.nl and Eet.nu.
Terraces
Thirsty after a warm day, tired from an outing, or simply fancy a drink? In the centre you're well served all day long.
For every thirst: all day long they pour soft drinks, beer, cocktails and more, whatever you're in the mood for.
The right spot: settle down at one of the many cosy terraces or cafés in the centre of Texel., nicely in the sun, in the shade or out of the wind.
Convivial until late: at the bar or around the table, with friends or to meet new people, enjoy the atmosphere and let yourself be indulged into the small hours.
Twelve beach pavilions
The beach on Texel is a treat in summer and winter alike, with as many as twelve beach pavilions that turn it into a full day out.
From a snack to dinner: on the sandy beach you'll find several pavilions where you can stop for a drink, a bite or a full meal, while the sun casts its last light across the beach.
Handy for the beach: some sell beach gear such as kites, the toilets are open to everyone on the beach, and there is often hire of beach cabins, beach chairs and windbreaks. In summer there's usually a volleyball net too.
Open in winter as well: especially at weekends, a number of pavilions on Texel now stay open. Wonderful after a bracing walk through storm and wind along the roaring sea: gazing out over the wild water from behind the glass, with a hot coffee or a good drink in hand.
Overview: these are the twelve beach pavilions you'll find on the beach at Texel:
Texel's nightlife is convivial and lively: no big club scene, but plenty of bars, pubs and the odd disco, with De Koog as the island's buzzing nightlife hub.
De Koog at the heart of it: the resort of De Koog is the liveliest spot on the island for good reason, with several enjoyable cafés, pubs and even a disco, filling up pleasantly in the evenings.
A night out in Den Burg: the largest village, Den Burg, also has a range of cafés and bars around the Groeneplaats, ideal for a convivial evening or a drink after dinner.
A café in every village: if you simply fancy a beer, you'll find a cosy café for a quiet evening in almost every Texel village.
Try the local beer: round off your evening with a Texel beer, such as the well-known Skuumkoppe, brewed on the island itself and found on almost every tap.
Festivities throughout the year: Texel is known for its vibrant events, from music festivals in summer to the lively celebrations on the events calendar, when the island is at its liveliest.
Texel Brewery
Do you fancy a pint? Then a visit to the Texel Brewery in Oudeschild is a must. In the tasting room, you will be warmly welcomed by a guide. You'll learn more about the company's history and how the beer is made. After the explanation, you'll head to the cinema, where a short film will tell you more about the brewing process. Following that, you'll receive information ...
Een paar praktische tips maken je uitje uit eten net wat soepeler.
Reserveer in het hoogseizoen: in de zomer en op mooie weekenddagen zitten de populaire zaken snel vol, dus een tafel vooraf reserveren voorkomt teleurstellingen.
Pinnen kan bijna overal: betalen met pinpas of contactloos is in de meeste zaken vanzelfsprekend, maar kleinere strandtentjes rekenen soms een minimumbedrag voor kaartbetaling.
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