Texel sits 4 km off the North Holland mainland and is reached by the TESO car-and-passenger ferry from Den Helder to 't Horntje, a 20-minute crossing every 30 minutes year-round. Dogs travel free on TESO ferries (foot-passenger or in a car), are welcome on the open upper deck, and indoor lounges accept leashed dogs. NS Intercity trains run direct from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder in about 1 hour, with the ferry pier 200 m from the station. Schiphol Airport is 1h45 by car-and-ferry. On the island, the Texelhopper bus network covers all seven villages and the dunes; dogs ride free on a leash.
💡 Foot-passengers can walk straight on at the Den Helder pier; the bus Texelhopper 28 meets every arrival at 't Horntje and runs to Den Burg in 15 minutes for €4.50 a single (dog free).
💡 Outside the main lines, book a Texelhopper deeltaxi shuttle (€4.50 per stop, dog included) up to 1 hour in advance via the Texelhopper app; it reaches every dune entry and beach paaltje on the island.
💡 From Schiphol Airport take the direct Sprinter via Hoofddorp and Heerhugowaard to Den Helder (1h35); buy the Dagkaart Hond at the yellow machine at Schiphol before boarding to skip the queue at Den Helder.