Texel ranks high as unspoiled island tourist destination

DIEMEN – The National Geographic Traveler, a magazine devoted to tourism, has ranked Wadden island Texel as one of the most unspoiled island destinations in the world. The list, which is headed by the Danish Faroe island constellation, awards Texel a shared seventh spot. The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire also ranks well but Aruba and Sint Maarten fare poorly on the list. The magazine says of Texel that its "historic structures (e.g., Texel Lighthouse) and the ever-present sheep make for a pastoral experience. Tourists bicycle everywhere. Very appropriate for the character of the area." The island “is a classic example of 'sustainable mass tourism.' The Dutch got it right. Very nice (and quite pricey) accommodations, and great management of the extensive dune systems, where most visitors tend to stay on the beautiful tracks and boardwalks."

The magazine concludes that the island strikes "a nice balance between tourism and social/cultural integrity. There are limited mass developments and therefore you really feel part of life on Texel."