Texel 120180 222958320 2008-07-01T22:33:40Z Numbo3-bot 7118326 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]] [[ca:Texel]] [[de:Texel (Insel)]] [[et:Texel]] [[es:Texel]] [[eo:Texel]] [[fr:Texel (Pays-Bas)]] [[fy:Tessel]] [[gl:Texel]] [[id:Texel]] [[it:Texel]] [[he:טסל]] [[jv:Texel]] [[li:Tessel]] [[nl:Texel]] [[nds-nl:Tessel]] [[ja:テセル]] [[no:Texel]] [[nn:Texel]] [[pl:Texel]] [[pt:Texel]] [[ro:Texel]] [[ru:Тексел (остров)]] [[sv:Texel]] [[vo:Texel]] [[zea:Texel]]