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The touristic Wadden Island of Texel is very versatile. Whether you want to get a breath of fresh air on the beach or enjoy a great diversity of nature; you will find it all on Texel. A large part of Texel consists of a nature reserve with special plants and animals and, among other things, National Park Dunes of Texel shows you a special piece of nature, which is unique in the Netherlands and even in Europe. In total, the area, which was designated a National Park in 2002, is approximately 43 square kilometers and covers the dune areas on the entire west side of the island. The beaches in the south and on the northern tip of the island are also part of the Dunes of Texel National Park. One of the beautiful areas that you will explore is De Slufter. This wide dune valley has an open connection with the North Sea. The seawater runs through creeks into the Slufter when the tide comes in. Due to the salty seawater, it is logical that many salt-loving plants grow here. Sea lavender colors the plains purple in June and the samphire blooms deep red in October. Further northwest, a sweet, wet valley has developed where orchids grow in abundance. Birds like to breed and hunt on Texel; frequently seen guests are the eider, the spoonbill and waders. But Texel has several special residents; the common and gray seals are regularly spotted and rabbits and hares hop between the dunes, on which the ermine hunts. The happy peace seeker will spot white-beaked dolphins from the beaches.