Texel
Webpages concerning "Texel"
|
The contents has been generating using technology developed by scientec.
Wikipedia-Article "Texel"
This article is about the Dutch island Texel. For the meaning in computer graphics, see Texel (graphics)
Texel (population: 13,735 in 2004) is an island and municipality in the North Sea, part of the Dutch province of North Holland. It is the biggest and most populated of the Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea and also the westernmost of this archipelago, which extends to Denmark.
Although spelled with an X the name is pronounced Tessel, this is because historically it was spelled with a ligature for ss which strongly resembled x. As the ligature disappeared from use the name came to be spelled with an x, although the pronunciation remained the same.
The island forms one municipality that includes the seven villages De Cocksdorp, De Koog, De Waal, Den Burg, Den Hoorn, Oosterend, and Oudeschild, and the small townships of Bargen, De Nes, Dijkmanshuizen, Driehuizen, Harkebuurt, 't Horntje, Midden-Eierland, Molenbuurt, Nieuweschild, Noorderbuurt, Ongeren, Oost, Spang, Spijkdorp, Tienhoven, Westermient, Zevenhuizen, and Zuid-Eierland.
The municipality covers an area of 463.28 km² (of which 301.32 km² is water) and also includes the uninhabited sand bar of Noorderhaaks. The island of Texel, which received city rights in 1415, is made up of two islands, Texel proper to the south and Eierland to the northwest, which were connected by shoals. In the seventeenth century, the islands were poldered together.
Texel is known for its wildlife, particularly in winter, when birds of prey and geese take up residence.
There is a ferry to Den Helder on the North Holland mainland. The island has an airstrip at Midden-Eierland.
In the early Middle Ages and before, Texel and Wieringen may have been much bigger and met each other as opposite banks of the Marsdiep, which was then a river with banks of permanent land: see here.
Contents |
Den Burg
Den Burg is the largest and least touristic village of the island, though it has a historic center. It is located in the middle of the island. The town hall is situated here. Outdoor markets are held each week in the main square.
De Koog
De Koog is the main centre of tourism on the island. The small village is surrounded with many hotels and campgrounds. The village is located on the North Sea coast of the island. Only two narrow lines of dunes separate the village from the beach.
South of the village is a wooded area that is also popular with tourists. The information centre and museum about the Wadden Sea, Ecomare, is located here.
Oudeschild
Oudeschild is the fishing harbour of the island. It is situated at the Wadden Sea dyke. Next to the harbour, the windmill Traanroeier marks the site of the Maritime and Beachcombers Museum, which exhibits an interesting collection of objects found on the beaches of Texel.
In the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company ships sailing from Amsterdam waited for favourable winds at the Reede of Texel, on the sea near Oudeschild.
Close to the village is the Hoge Berg (the so-called "High Mountain"), a 15 meter high hill. Near the Hoge Berg is the Russian's cemetery. Here lie the Georgians who died in their uprising in 1945.
Oosterend
Oosterend the second largest village on the island, with about 1500 inhabitants. Although it's situated further from the sea than Oudeschild it's the hometown of the most fisherman at Texel. Oosterend is build around a church called Maartenskerk (the so-called "Saint Martin's Church"). The oldest parts of the church where build in the 11th century. Oosterend is sometimes called Jerusalem-of-the-north, this is caused due to five different religions in the village, Catholicism, Baptism, Dutch-Reformed, Protestantism, Reformed-Gemeente (a.k.a. "Black Socks Church"). But this doesn't lead to conflicts, all the religions live peacefully together. This is also the cause of that the relatively small community has three primary schools.
Battles
- 1653 Battle of Scheveningen - During the First Anglo-Dutch War.
- 1673 Battle of Texel - During the Third Anglo-Dutch War.
- 1945 Georgian Uprising of Texel - During the Second World War
External links
|
|
 |
|---|---|
|
Aalsmeer | Alkmaar | Amstelveen | Amsterdam | Andijk | Anna Paulowna | Beemster | Bennebroek | Bergen | Beverwijk | Blaricum | Bloemendaal | Bussum | Castricum | Den Helder | Diemen | Drechterland | Edam-Volendam | Enkhuizen | Graft-De Rijp | Haarlem | Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude | Haarlemmermeer | Harenkarspel | Heemskerk | Heemstede | Heerhugowaard | Heiloo | Hilversum | Hoorn | Huizen | Landsmeer | Langedijk | Laren | Medemblik | Muiden | Naarden | Niedorp | Noorder-Koggenland | Obdam | Oostzaan | Opmeer | Ouder-Amstel | Purmerend | Schagen | Schermer | Stede Broec | Texel | Uitgeest | Uithoorn | Velsen | Venhuizen | Waterland | Weesp | Wervershoof | Wester-Koggenland | Wieringen | Wieringermeer | Wijdemeren | Wognum | Wormerland | Zaanstad | Zandvoort | Zeevang | Zijpe |
|
| Netherlands | Provinces | Municipalities| map | |