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The dune area of Texel is a beautiful nature reserve with dunes, forests, heaths, salt marshes and an extensive beach plain. The expanse of sea and beach, the beautiful forests and the large dune landscape make the National Park Duinen van Texel a wonderful area to visit. The nature reserve is 43 square kilometers in size and forms a sea of dunes as far as you can see over the entire west side of Texel. Because of its tranquility, Texel is a paradise for many animal species: the common seal and the gray seal have a great time along the coastline, in the dunes the rabbits hop hares where ermines hunt and if you are lucky, you will see in the sea a white-beaked dolphin swimming. It will not surprise you that Texel also attracts many different bird species: the brent goose, tundra bean goose, spoonbill, shelduck, widgeon, lapwing and dunlin are just some of the feathered animals that come to seek refuge on the island. From the starting point of the bike tour at Hotel Kogerstaete, you cross the entire width of the island. This way you see many different sides of Texel, from the smallest village on the island (De Waal) to the place where the only port is that is used. After almost nine kilometers you will arrive at windmill De Kemphaan. This meadow mill was built to flood a bird sanctuary. The mill is owned by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten. A storm in the fall of 2008 broke off one blade and damaged several blades. In the following summer, the mill was completely restored and made ready to grind. The mill is a municipal monument and runs on a voluntary basis in 2013. Near the east coast of the island, in the Polder Zandkes, is a modest monument. In 1942 a Halifax bomber crashed on this spot, killing the entire crew, consisting of five Canadians and three British. Windmill Het Noorden is also a nice windmill to view. This polder mill is located just north of Oosterend. The mill was built to drain the northeastern areas of the island. In 1928, the mill was streamlined and three screw pumps for better operation. The mill ceased operation around 1964 and became the property of the De Hollandse Molen foundation in 1970. He has restored the mill and made it ready to grind again, so that it can now be put into operation on a voluntary basis.