Texel

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Texel

mapsize = 280px

Texel is a municipality and an island in the Netherlands, in the 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. The next island in the archipelago, to the north of Texel, is Vlieland.

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 the letter "x". As the ligature disappeared from use, the name came to be spelled with an "x" but the pronunciation remained the same.

Geography

The island 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 also includes the uninhabited sand bar of Noorderhaaks. The island of Texel, which received city rights in 1415, originally was 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. Today, Texel forms the largest natural barrier between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea.

The dune landscape on Texel is a unique habitat for wildlife. Texel is known for its wildlife, particularly in winter, when birds of prey and geese take up residence. About one third of Texel is a protected nature reserve.

Transport

Transport around the island is typically by bicycle or car. Texel has an extensive cycle path network. Transport to Texel is usually by ferry (Royal TESO), from Den Helder, or by air via Texel International Airport.

History

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.

Notable battles involving Texel:
* 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

Tourism

The tourism industry forms a substantial part of the economy in Texel. Approximately 70% of activities on Texel are in some way related to tourism. Popular forms of tourism on Texel include cycling, walking, swimming and horse riding.

Local government

The municipal council of Texel consists of 15 seats, which are divided as follows:

* Texels Belang - 4 seats
* VVD - 3 seats
* CDA - 2 seats
* GroenLinks - 2 seats
* PvdA - 2 seats
* D66 - 1 seat
* Fractie Weijers - 1 seat

References

* Statistics are taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem465nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]

ee also

*Texel (sheep) A breed of sheep from Texel

External links

* [http://www.texel-info.com Texel Information]
* [http://www.texel-online.nl Virtual Tour Texel]
* [http://www.texel.net Tourist information Texel]
* [http://www.picturesofholland.nl/Texel/texelframe.htm Pictures of Texel]
* [http://www.coastalguide.org/dune/texel/ Further information about Texel - Coastal Guide]
* [http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/wadden.html Barry Yeoman - Destination: Wadden Islands]
* [http://www.teso.nl/index.php?lang=en Texel Ferry Service]
* [http://www.dutchtexels.co.uk Dutch Texel Sheep]
* [http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/birding%20texel%20netherlands.htm Birdwatching Texel information]