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Practical Tips for Visiting Texel with a Dog
🇳🇱Texel, Netherlands·Updated 12 June 2026
Texel may be the most painlessly dog-friendly destination in the Netherlands: 33 numbered beach paaltjes, five year-round off-leash dog beaches, 4,300 hectares of national park, 850 hectares of pine forest, and a TESO ferry where dogs cross free in 20 minutes. A handful of local rules and habits will make the trip smoother. Off-leash freedom on the beach is split by section, the eastern Wadden Sea coast is closed to dogs year-round for bird protection, and the National Park bird-nesting cores at De Slufter and De Muy ask for strict leash discipline from April 1 to September 1.
💡 Quick Tips
- 1.Five year-round off-leash dog beaches on Texel: Paal 8 (Mokbaai), Paal 9 (Den Hoorn), Paal 17 (De Koog south), Paal 28 and Paal 31 (De Cocksdorp at the Eierland lighthouse). On all other beach sections dogs are leashed May 1–September 14 and off-leash September 15–April 30.
- 2.Dogs travel free on the TESO ferry Den Helder–'t Horntje (20 min, every 30 min year-round), free on Texelhopper buses, and 1h05 NS train from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder needs a Dagkaart Hond (€3.30) for dogs over carrier size.
- 3.Save the on-island vet (Dierenartsenpraktijk Texel +31 222 312527) and the mainland 24/7 specialist (Medisch Centrum voor Dieren Amsterdam +31 20 7400600); the last TESO ferry back to Den Helder leaves at 21:30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed on Texel beaches all year?
Yes, every Texel beach section admits dogs year-round, but off-leash rules vary. Five sections are off-leash year-round: Paal 8, Paal 9, Paal 17, Paal 28 and Paal 31. On every other section dogs must be leashed May 1 to September 14 and may run free September 15 to April 30.
How do I get to Texel with a dog?
Take the NS train from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder (1h05, Dagkaart Hond €3.30 for dogs over carrier size) and walk 200 m to the TESO ferry pier. The ferry to 't Horntje runs every 30 minutes year-round and dogs cross free. From Schiphol Airport allow about 1h45 by car-and-ferry.
Is there an emergency vet on Texel itself?
Daytime, yes, Dierenartsenpraktijk Texel in Den Burg (+31 222 312527). Out-of-hours emergencies are routed via the Kring Den Helder rotating duty on the mainland (call Dierenkliniek Duinpark +31 223 680222 first). Serious overnight cases escalate to the 24/7 Medisch Centrum voor Dieren in Amsterdam.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Texel
Our top-rated pet-friendly hotels, handpicked and verified.
Hotel-Restaurant Loodsmans Welvaren
★★★ · 8.8/10
€140/night
DuinHotel Texel
★★★ · 8.7/10
€130/night
Villapark De Koog
★★★★ · 9.1/10
€200/night
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