Texel
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robot Adding: [[nds-nl:Tessel]]
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Texel
|image_map = LocatieTexel.png
|mapsize = 280px
|image_flag = Texel flag.svg
|flag_size = 150x75px
|image_shield = Wapentexel.gif
|shield_size = 150x75px
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[Netherlands]]
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = [[North Holland]]
|leader_name = C.J. Geldorp-Pantekoek
|leader_party = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
|area_footnotes = (2006)
|area_total_km2 = 463.28
|area_land_km2 = 161.96
|area_water_km2 = 301.32
|population_as_of = [[1 January]], [[2007]]
|population_note = Source: [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]], [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline].
|settlement_type = Municipality
|population_total = 13617
|population_density_km2 = 84
|timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
|utc_offset = +1
|timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +2
|latd = 53.05
|latNS = N
|longd = 4.80
|longEW = E
|website = [http://www.texel.nl www.texel.nl]
}}
{{dablink|This article is about the Dutch island, also see: [[Texel (disambiguation)]].}}
'''Texel''' is a municipality and an [[island]] in the [[Netherlands]], in the province of [[North Holland]]. It is the biggest and most populated of the [[West Frisian Islands|Frisian Islands]] in the [[Wadden Sea]], and also the westernmost of this [[archipelago]], which extends to [[Denmark]]. The next island in the [[archipelago]], to the north of Texel, is [[Vlieland]].
Although spelled with an ''[[X]]'' the name is pronounced ''Tessel''; this is because, historically, it was spelled with a [[Typographical ligature|ligature]] for "ss", which strongly resembled the letter ''x''. As the ligature disappeared from use, the name came to be spelled with an "x" but the pronunciation remained the same.
== Geography ==
[[Image:Texel.jpg|thumb|left|[[Satellite]] [[image]] of the [[island]] of Texel and its surroundings]]
The island includes the seven villages [[De Cocksdorp]], [[De Koog]], [[De Waal]], [[Den Burg]], [[Den Hoorn (North Holland)|Den Hoorn]], [[Oosterend]], and [[Oudeschild]], and the small townships of [[Bargen, Texel|Bargen]], [[De Nes]], [[Dijkmanshuizen]], [[Driehuizen]], [[Harkebuurt]], [['t Horntje]], [[Midden-Eierland]], [[Molenbuurt]], [[Nieuweschild]], [[Noorderbuurt]], [[Ongeren]], [[Oost]], [[Spang, North Holland|Spang]], [[Spijkdorp]], [[Tienhoven]], [[Westermient]], [[Zevenhuizen (Texel)|Zevenhuizen]], and [[Zuid-Eierland]].
[[Image:Slufter2.jpg|thumb|right|The Slufter]]
The municipality also includes the uninhabited [[bar (landform)|sand bar]] of [[Noorderhaaks]]. The island of Texel, which received [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]] in [[1415]], originally was made up of two islands, Texel proper to the south and [[Eierland]] to the northwest, which were connected by [[shoal]]s. In the [[seventeenth century]], the islands were [[polder]]ed together. Today, Texel forms the largest natural barrier between the [[North Sea]] and the [[Wadden Sea]].
The dune landscape on Texel is a unique habitat for wildlife. Texel is known for its wildlife, particularly in winter, when [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] and [[goose|geese]] take up residence. About one third of Texel is a protected nature reserve.
== Transport ==
Transport around the island is typically by bicycle or car. Texel has an extensive cycle path network. Transport to Texel is usually by ferry ([[Royal TESO]]), from [[Den Helder]], or by air via [[Texel International Airport]].[[Image:Veerboot Schulpengat.jpg|right|thumb|Ferry from Den Helder to Texel]]
==History==
In the early [[Middle Ages]] and before, Texel and [[Wieringen]] may have been much bigger and met each other as opposite banks of the [[Marsdiep]], which was then a river with banks of permanent land: see [[Wieringen#History|here]].
Notable battles involving Texel:
* [[1653]] [[Battle of Scheveningen]] - During the [[First Anglo-Dutch War]].
* [[1673]] [[Battle of Texel]] - During the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]].
* [[1945]] [[Georgian Uprising of Texel]] - During the [[Second World War]]
==Tourism==
The tourism industry forms a substantial part of the economy in Texel. Approximately 70% of activities on Texel are in some way related to tourism. Popular forms of tourism on Texel include cycling, walking, swimming and horse riding.
== Local government ==
The municipal council of Texel consists of 15 seats, which are divided as follows:
* Texels Belang - 4 seats
* [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] - 3 seats
* [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] - 2 seats
* [[GroenLinks]] - 2 seats
* [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] - 2 seats
* [[Democrats 66|D66]] - 1 seat
* [[Fractie Weijers]] - 1 seat
== References ==
* Statistics are taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem465nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]
{{commonscat|Texel}}
==See also==
*[[Texel (sheep)]] A breed of sheep from Texel
==External links==
*[http://www.texel-info.com Texel Information]
*[http://www.texel-online.nl Virtual Tour Texel]
*[http://www.texel.net Tourist information Texel]
*[http://www.picturesofholland.nl/Texel/texelframe.htm Pictures of Texel]
*[http://www.coastalguide.org/dune/texel/ Further information about Texel - Coastal Guide]
*[http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/wadden.html Barry Yeoman - Destination: Wadden Islands]
*[http://www.teso.nl/index.php?lang=en Texel Ferry Service]
*[http://www.dutchtexels.co.uk Dutch Texel Sheep]
*[http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/birding%20texel%20netherlands.htm Birdwatching Texel information]
{{North Holland Province}}
{{Frisian Islands}}
{{Dutch municipality Texel}}
{{coor title d|53.05|N|4.80|E}}
[[Category:Texel| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of North Holland]]
[[Category:Islands of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Frisian Islands]]
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[[ja:テセル]]
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[[ru:Тексел (остров)]]
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