Horspolders & Kreeftepolder - Nature

At the southernmost tip of Texel lie the Horspolders and the Kreeftepolder, a young and dynamic nature area where wind, sea, sand, and grasses create a stunning landscape.

What to expect in the Horspolders & Kreeftepolder

• Texel’s youngest dune area: Walk through dune valleys, past freshwater ponds and over sand dikes while enjoying the great variety of plants and animals. De Hors is still on the move. Wind and sand continually create new dunes.
• Orchids and special plants: In spring, you’ll find species such as the early marsh orchid, spotted orchid, marsh helleborine, and even the rare green-winged orchid. You can also find species like grass-of-Parnassus, seaside centaury, and dwarf flowers.
• Horsmeertjes: These freshwater dune ponds, fringed with wide reed beds, are a paradise for plants and birds. Special species still thrive here, even as the area slowly becomes drier.
• Rich birdlife: Spot numerous species here:
  • Breeding birds such as the marsh harrier, bluethroat, bittern, and bearded reedling.
  • Ducks such as teal, wigeon, shoveler, and goldeneye.
  • In the bushes around the viewing points you may see thrushes, redwings, lesser whitethroats, and nightingales.
• Kreeftepolder: The youngest polder in the area, named after Jaap Kreeft from Rijkswaterstaat. Thanks to annual mowing, rare dune-valley plants grow here. This is the place where you might spot the extremely rare green-winged orchid.

Practical information

• Accessibility: Start your walk from the Mokweg car park.
• Circular walk: Wander the paths around the Horsmeertjes and towards De Hors. Follow the blue posts for a marked route of 3.8 kilometres.
• Viewing points:
  • Viewing point Waterral: Views over the Horsmeertjes, ideal for birdwatchers.
  • Viewing point Horsmeertjes: On a hill with panoramic views over the dune valley. Often you’ll see songbirds in the surrounding bushes.
• Best time: In spring the orchids bloom, in summer birds such as the little tern breed, and in autumn and winter thousands of ducks settle on the ponds.

Visit the Horspolders and Kreeftepolder and discover one of the most dynamic and nature-rich places on Texel!

Furthermore Horspolders & Kreeftepolder is near the following sights: De Geul (±950 m), Viewing Point Horsmeertjes (±1,1 km), De Hors (±1,2 km), Waterral (±1,8 km) & De Petten (±1,9 km).

For information

Mokweg, Den Hoorn, Texel