Texel is one of the most popular Wadden Islands. And that's not for nothing. It is a wonderful island to go on holiday with children. Are you looking for a nice, child-friendly accommodation? Then book a holiday at the Stayokay Texel. Rosa preceded you and will take you on her holiday.
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When I told my husband that my plan was to go to Stayokay Texel with our family during the May holiday, he was not enthusiastic. “A hostel is not for children,” he responded. ‘Are you sure?’ However, I was triggered by the Stayokay site, which states that Stayokay Texel is very child-friendly.
That's why we decide to try it out and stay a few nights in this hostel, located in the middle of Texel in the village of Den Burg. A nice central place on the island to explore the rest of Texel from there.
Book your stay at Stayokay here
On arrival we are kindly welcomed by one of the employees. Our daughter Laura discovers the craft table in no time and immediately starts drawing, coloring and stamping. The arrival hall with a spacious table where you can read a nice newspaper and where the craft table is located has a nice relaxed atmosphere. Also the cozy cafe with sitting area and bar.
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You immediately get into the holiday mood when you arrive here. After we have furnished our room, we will explore the rest of the hostel. Laura is very happy with the nice playground behind the hostel with cable car, swings and slide and the cupboard with children's books and games. Everything is clear that children have been thought of. The rooms are small, but fine for a family with children. We have a room with a private shower and toilet, a double bed and a bunk bed. In the evening my husband and I drink a nice Texel beer in the Stayokay café while our daughter is sleeping in the room. In the morning we sit down for breakfast, a delicious buffet with something for everyone. A real party for Laura to have breakfast here and a good start to the day for us.
I have already collected all kinds of information about Texel in advance, but in Stayokay you can also get all kinds of brochures and the employees can tell you everything. We also receive a nice welcome package with information about activities on the island. There is so much to do that you really have to make choices. I have listed the best activities with children for you:
A visit to Ecomare should not be missed during a holiday on Texel. It is the attraction of Texel. Of course you see many cute seals and you learn a lot about the seals and porpoises, but Ecomare also has a beautiful aquarium and a museum with all kinds of information about the history of Ecomare and marine life.
A friend of mine texted me when I told them that we were going to Stayokay Texel:De Bonte experience you have to go there with Laura. That's so much fun! We follow her tip and it turns out to be a great day indeed. De Bonte Belevenis is a farm, bakery, tearoom and beer brewery where children can make everything themselves. Each child can buy a craft card with which he or she can participate in the activities. Laura can make candles, soap, paper and bread. Truly an experience. We drink tea in the cozy tearoom where you can get all kinds of delicacies. There is also a nice playground and all kinds of animals to see. The highlight of the day is that Laura can bottle-feed a lamb. Fantastic of course. De Bonte Belevenis is an absolute must during a holiday on Texel.
Texel is a real sheep island. In the spring you see lambs hopping in the meadow everywhere. Because we go to Stayokay Texel in the middle of the season, we naturally want to see and cuddle those lambs up close. One of the places where this is possible is at Texel Sheep Farm.
When you enter you are welcomed in a nice farm with a cozy sitting area where you can drink a cup of coffee and where the children get free orange juice. If you continue on, you will end up in the stables of the sheep. Here you can see all kinds of sheep. Almost all of them have several lambs when we are there, very cute. At the back of the stable is a special corner where children can cuddle lambs. An employee keeps an eye on whether the animals are doing well. Laura likes this so much that she can't get away from these cute lambs. Every day at 11:00 there is a sheep herding demonstration. Farmer Mariska explains about the company, the sheep and shows how the two dogs herd the flock of sheep together. This beautiful Texel company is really worth a visit.
I am a walker. I love going out into nature and going for a brisk walk. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen with a 5 year old. If I tell Laura we're going for a walk, she doesn't feel like it anymore. Walking on Texel, however, is a completely different story. Go into the dunes, into nature or find a nice child-friendly walk and at the end of the walk you have earned something delicious at Stayokay Texel!
There is so much to see on this beautiful Wadden island. Take a bag with food for a picnic and a blanket. Everywhere you can have a nice picnic between the dunes or on the beach. We walked ourselves and took a walk with Laura in the special nature reserve the Sluftervallei. This is a piece of nature between land and sea that regularly flows under water. Very nice for children to walk through and wade through the streams. So put on boots or shoes that can get wet 😉 .
We also take a walk through the dune park at Ecomare. This is a short walk of about an hour where children are given all kinds of assignments about animals that live in the dune area. They learn to listen like a rabbit, soar through the harrier and run like a pheasant. Have a look here for more walks.
When Laura was a baby, we already visited Texel once during our holiday, not at Stayokay, but at another accommodation. And one of the trips we made then was to visit the lighthouse. I did not dare to climb the tower with Laura, she was too small. She is now big enough to climb the lighthouse itself, no less than 118 steps. She is so proud that she dares!
When you are at the top you have a beautiful view over the island and other Wadden islands. In good weather you can see Vlieland. When you visit the lighthouse, don't forget to go to the beach. On this side of the island you have the most beautiful beach on Texel. Bring sand toys, a towel and kite and fun is guaranteed.
Reading tip: top 10 nicest holiday parks in the Netherlands and experiences in Stayokay Dordrecht
Finally, I would like to give you a tip for a nice, child-friendly restaurant, namely pancake house Catharina Hoeve. It is an old farm that has been beautifully converted into a restaurant with playground. You can eat delicious pancakes there, of course, but you can also get plenty of other dishes such as spare ribs, steak or fish. In bad weather, the kids can have fun in the play loft. A nice place to end your day.
I also want to visit the self-picking garden raise one more time. Unfortunately for us, it isn't open yet when we are at Stayokay Texel, but I've heard good stories about it. This seems like a really fun activity to do with children!
I hope I have given you enough great tips for a holiday on Stayokay Texel. If you don't have enough inspiration yet? Then take a look at the excursions you can take on Texel via Ecomare, Staatsbosbeheer or Natuurmomuments. These organizations offer weekly children's excursions, well worth checking out.
Would you like to stay at Stayokay Texel during your holiday? Then take a good look at what type of room you are booking. We had a family room with a double bed and a bunk bed. Please note the rooms are small. So if you are traveling with a baby or toddler, check with the hostel whether there is enough space for a camping cot.
That the rooms are small in this nice hostel is no problem at all. There are plenty of places where you can chill out, such as the living room, the cafe and the beautiful terrace when the weather is good. The prices include a delicious breakfast buffet. In the evening you can enjoy a good three-course menu for a reasonable price. Children get a 50% discount. Children's activities are planned during weekends and holidays, such as a craft morning. As far as we are concerned, this stay is worth repeating!
Book your stay at Stayokay here
