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Many travelers who visit The Netherlands go to Amsterdam, Haarlem, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Those are all great cities to visit. And when they want to visit a smaller Dutch village, they often head to Edam, Gouda, and Volendaam.
Looking for more information on Amsterdam? Check my blog post for first time visitors to Amsterdam.
But let’s say you’ve been there and done that, or you’re looking for something beyond the typical destinations? Or, you might be wanting to have a completely different experience from non-stop tulips and the crowds of Keukenhof? Or maybe you just love animals (more than people)? 🤣
Take a look at this under-the-radar destination that’s an easy day trip from Amsterdam to Texel Island. (Pronounced Tessel).
Why Visit Texel Island For a Day Trip?
Texel Island is a beautiful getaway island on the northern tip of The Netherlands, and accessible only by a twenty minute ferry ride from the mainland. It feels a world away from Amsterdam, but it’s easily accessible as a day trip from the city. And best of all, lambing season coincides perfectly with tulip season.
Lamb Season on Texel Island
Texel is rumored to have more sheep than people, and each year, roughly 25,000 lambs are born between February and April! It’s easy to spot thousands of fluffy sheep grazing in pastures as you traverse the island, but Texel Island can provide you with an opportunity to get beyond the wooden fences and snapping photos from the roadside. On Texel, you can enter sheep farms and actually hold one. And to get that hands-on experience, you need to head to the Schapenboerderij Texel (or put more simply for those who don’t speak Dutch– Texel Sheep Farm.
Texel Sheep Farm: The Best Sheep Farm on Texel for Lamb Cuddling
If you only do one thing on the island, make it this. The Schapenboerderij Texel (Sheep Farm Texel) is unlike any farm I’ve visited in the US.
While most farms ask you to look from a distance, this family-run farm invites you into the barn to sit in the straw and actually cuddle with the lambs.
Texel is a family-owned working sheep farm. In addition to herding sheep, Texel Sheep Farm allows visitors to view and cuddle with the sheep, including its newborn lambs, feeling as soft and fluffy as you’d hoped they’d be. The farm has a number of sheep breeds, and all can be experienced within the lamb nursery and cuddle area, the larger barn, or roaming around the property.
- Location: Just outside the town of Den Burg, at Pontweg 77, 1791 LA Den Burg
- Best Time: Texel Sheep Farm has lambs year round, which is unusual for many sheep farms. However, peak lamb season occurs in the spring– primarily from February through April.
- Ticket Tip: I booked my ticket to the farm online, and their reservation system provides a reserved time so not everyone arrives at once! That said, it is my understanding that you can just show up. (I’d still book online as soon as you have a date in mind). Admission to the farm is a super reasonable €6 at the time of this writing.
How to Get From Amsterdam to Texel by Train
While it feels like a world away, the journey is surprisingly smooth. Plan on approximately 2.5 hours each way. I treat the travel as part of the experience—the train offers lovely views of the Dutch countryside, and the ferry ride is a highlight in itself!
Step 1: Taking the Train to Den Helder
Train: Board a direct Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder. They run every 30 minutes (:04 and :34 past the hour). Duration: ~1 hr 15 min.
Bus to Ferry: At Den Helder, walk 2 minutes to the adjacent bus station and take Bus 33 to the Ferry Terminal (Steiger TESO). Duration: ~10 min.
Step 2: The Texel Ferry for Foot Passengers Explained
Texel Ferry and Costs: The ferry usually departs from Den Helder on the half-hour (e.g., 9:30, 10:30). Though this is a fairly quick crossing, the ferry is very comfortably equipped. Feel free to walk around the ferry, sit outdoors, or sit indoors! The views of Texel from the ferry are beautiful and you may be fortunate enough to see some marine life as you approach the island. Keep your eye out for dolphins and seals. There’s also a nice cafe on board and a gift shop for those cute stuffed lambs. As a foot passenger, it is incredibly inexpensive to take the ferry and the price includes your return ticket (~€2.50 round trip!). (Price as of this writing.) Duration: 20 min.
Do You Need to Book in Advance? No reservations are needed, and according to Teso Ferry, they will add an additional ferry if expecting very larger crowds. But if you are the planner-type, you may purchase your tickets online as you like.
Step 3: Taking Bus From Ferry to Texel Sheep Farm (or anywhere else)
Upon arrival on the ferry, take Bus 28 (Direction: De Koog) and get off at stop Pontweg-Leemkuil. The Sheep Farm is a short walk from there.
Getting to Texel from Amsterdam takes approx. 2 1/2 hours, and having done this trip myself, I can tell you that the transportation links of train to ferry to bus etc. are aligned pretty perfectly. You can generally go right from the train to a waiting ferry, to a waiting bus, etc.
My love of travel has taught me to view the journey to any destination as part of the trip itself. Train and bus travel gives you an excellent opportunity to see the Dutch countryside without the hassle of navigation, and provides an opportunity to talk with people you might not otherwise meet.
Use the Omio tool below to purchase your tickets now rather than at the train station…
Getting Around Texel Without a Car
Public Transport on Texel for Tourists Despite its feeling of remoteness, Texel is very well served by public transportation, with over 130 bus stops on the island. Line 28 is the main route featuring a full sized bus, and servicing the ferry terminal with stops in the main towns. All other routes are served by mini buses which you need to reserve in order to use.
The easiest way to use the buses is to download the Texelhopper app.
One-Day Texel Itinerary
Morning: Lamb Cuddling at Texel Sheep Farm
Upon arrival on the ferry, take Bus 28 (Direction: De Koog) and get off at stop Pontweg-Leemkuil. The Sheep Farm is a short walk from there.
Highlights at Texel Sheep Farm
- The “Cuddle” Factor: It sounds corny, but holding a warm, 3-day-old lamb is pure serotonin. It doesn’t matter what else is happening in the barn– noisy sheep, noisy kids… the world kind of stops when you’re holding a lamb.
- The Demos: Throughout the day, they run sheepdog demonstrations where you can see the Border Collies herd the flock.
- Photo Op: This is where you get that photo for your Facebook or Instagram.
- The Farm Shop: where you can purchase a number of sheep based products all produced locally.
Lunch: Exploring Den Burg
Full disclosure, I was not in Den Burg for lunch– I could not tear myself away from the lambs. BUT, let’s assume that you DO manage to leave Texel Sheep Farm. By now, you are probably hungry and eager to explore the island more. Texel Sheep Farm has a small cafe on the property, so that is an option for you.
You can also hop back onto Bus 28 (right at the end of the driveway) and take a bus towards Den Burg, a quick ten minute ride away.
Den Burg has a central area with shops, cafes and restaurants. Pick a place for lunch. According to locals I asked, De Smulpot is a great place for lunch. Just take Bus 28 towards Den Burg and alight at Elemert/Centrum.
Afternoon: Walk on the Beach or Perhaps a Woolbad?
Woolbad: The Weirdest Spa Treatment You Need to Try
*Note: I did not try this spa experience due to lack of time, but it sounded so interesting, I thought you should know about it. For those wanting a spa splurge, consider booking a “Woolbad” treatment at the Boutique Hotel Texel, where you get wrapped in sheep’s wool. This might seem strange, but it actually makes sense. Lanolin is a component of sheep wool and it known for its moisturizing and healing properties.
Book your Woolbad treatment, or even an overnight stay, here.
Morning: Visit Poldertuin at Anna Palowna
You can read about the show garden known as Little Keukenhof in my earlier blog post “5 Best Tulip Farms in The Netherlands”. Combining the day trip to Texel with a visit to Poldertuin breaks the journey to Texel nearly in half. It’s a great way to combine seeing this lesser known (and FREE) show garden with a day trip adventure to Texel.
Afternoon: Lamb Cuddling on Texel Sheep Farm
Return to train station from Anna Palowna and visit Texel Sheep Farm in the afternoon.
I used this itinerary and was back home in Haarlem by 7:00 PM.
Does this sound like too many logistics to plan?? Have someone else do the heavy lifting…
Travel logistics aren’t everyone’s thing. If you love the idea of a day trip from Amsterdam to Texel, yet don’t have a car, and don’t fancy all the public transportation connections, I have the perfect solution for you.
Take advantage of this day trip on Viator. It will handle all the logistics for you. I like this pre-arranged tour because it gives you a good overview of Texel, takes care of the transportation connections that intimidate some travelers, AND has free time built into the schedule. So you can hop on a bus over to Texel Sheep Farm during this time. Check with the tour operator to ensure you have enough free time in the schedule (to your liking) to head out to Texel Sheep Farm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the Best Time for Lamb Season?
Lambing season generally occurs in the spring, conveniently overlapping with tulip season in The Netherlands. However, Texel Sheep Farm is unusual in that their sheep produce lambs all year.
What to pack for Texel Weather?
Prepare for wind, especially on the ferry ride over.
Is One Day in Texel Enough?
It does depend on what your emphasis is. If you are most interesting in cuddling with lambs, then one day is enough. If you are looking to make a full visit on the island, visiting the lighthouse, walking on the beach, etc., then you may want to extend your stay to overnight. Use the map below to check current rates and select your accommodation.
Can You Use the Amsterdam City Card for Texel?
No. The I Amsterdam City Card only includes the city of Amsterdam and surrounding areas. Texel is two hours north, and not included.
How Long Does it Take To Get From Amsterdam to Texel?
Figure on a couple of hours. It’s actually quite efficient in that the bus-train-ferry connections seem to be timed pretty well. There’s generally a bus waiting in Texel after the ferry docks, etc.
Are There Other Ways to Get Around Texel Besides Buses?
Yes! Consider renting a bicycle or scooter on the island. Texel is pretty flat, and cycling will be easy. There are some cycling routes here.
By bike: Fietsverhuurtexel is a bike and ebike rental business located at the TESO ferry terminal upon arrival in Texel. You can reserve a bike at their website.
Is Texel Worth a Day Trip from Amsterdam?
Absolutely. If you are looking to escape the crowds of Amsterdam and trade the busy canals for fresh island air and farm animal snuggles, Texel is the perfect detour. It requires a little bit of adventurous spirit to navigate the train and ferry, but holding that baby lamb makes every minute of the journey worth it.
Have you ever visited a Dutch island? Let me know in the comments below!
Schapenboerderij Texel Lamb Cuddling Experience
A heartwarming spring experience in Texel, Netherlands, where visitors can cuddle newborn lambs and learn about island sheep farming. You will feel so good after you spend all that time with the animals.
Product Brand: Second Act Travels
5
Pros
- Great fun for everyone of all ages
- Accessible using public transportation
- Can visit farm year round
- Perfect day trip from Amsterdam
Cons
- Can get crowded
