Texel

Population: 13,000

The island of Texel can be reached by car ferry from Den Helder (long delays during the main holiday season). With an area of 16,000 hectares/40,000 acres (length 24km/15mi, breadth 9km/6mi), it is the largest of the West Frisian islands. The sandy hill in the center of the island was occupied in Neolithic times.

The island's principal source of income apart from the tourist trade is agriculture (mainly sheep farming). Cheese is produced both from ewes' milk and from cows' milk (the well-known Texelaar cheese).