De Cocksdorp Beach

De Cocksdorp Beach is on Texel, at the northern tip of that island, across the Eierlandse Gat, a tidal channel in the Wadden Sea, from Vlieland. This is worth knowing before travelling: to reach it, you take the ferry from Den Helder to Texel, not the boat to Vlieland, and then cycle or drive north to the village of De Cocksdorp, the northernmost settlement on the island. From the beach you can look across the channel towards Vlieland, which is why the two are sometimes mentioned together.

The beach itself is a wild stretch of wide, pale sand along the North Sea, around four kilometres long, and it is quieter and less developed than the beaches nearer the main villages. There are few buildings and only limited facilities, so the experience is one of space, wind and sky. The strong winds that sweep this corner of the island make it popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers, and walkers enjoy the long, empty shore, with seabirds, dunes and views of the sea. Access is free and the beach is open at all times, but conditions are exposed, and it is important to respect tides and currents.

The Eierland lighthouse, which stands near the beach, is a major landmark. The red-and-white tower, built in 1864, guides ships through the entrance to the Wadden Sea, and it can be climbed in season for views across the island, the sea and the neighbouring islands. The area around De Cocksdorp has also been reclaimed land for centuries, and the polders behind the dunes give a very different landscape from the beach, with farmland, sheep and bulb fields.

Visitors who are on Vlieland will find that the island has its own beaches, on the North Sea side, which are wide and quiet and reached through the dunes from the village of Oost-Vlieland. Vlieland is a car-free island reached by ferry from Harlingen, and it is a good place for cycling, walking and birdwatching, with a village museum, a church and a lighthouse. Beyond the village, a large sandy area is closed for military use, so check the rules on access. The dune reserve and the mudflats of the Wadden Sea are the main attractions.

The beach suits kitesurfers, walkers and anyone who enjoys wild coastal scenery. Bring windproof clothing, since there is little shelter, and check the ferry times in advance.