Paal 25 Beach
Golden dunes, grey North Sea, blissfully empty shore
About
Strand Paal 25 stretches roughly 2,000 metres along the western edge of Texel, backed by an unbroken dune ridge that belongs to Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel. The golden sand is wide and firm at low tide, giving way to a broad foreshore where the grey North Sea rolls in under open skies. There's no beach bar, no sun-lounger rental, no thumping speakers — just wind, sand, and the occasional oystercatcher. It's consistently empty even in summer, which on a Dutch island is quietly remarkable.
How to get there
From Den Helder, take the daily ferry to Texel — the crossing takes around 20 minutes. Once on the island, the beach is an 8-minute drive from De Koog village. A small free car park sits at the paal 25 access point. The beach is also cycling-accessible from De Koog, making it a natural stop on a dune-road ride.
Who it's for
For couples
The consistent emptiness and lack of any commercial noise make this one of the few North Sea beaches where you can genuinely have a long stretch of golden sand to yourselves — ideal for a slow walk with nowhere to be.
For families
The wide, flat foreshore gives children plenty of room to run, and the free parking and easy boardwalk access keep the logistics simple — just pack food and water, as there's nothing to buy on the beach itself.
Our take
No lifeguard, no café, no facilities — that's the honest headline for Strand Paal 25, and it's also exactly what makes it worth the trip. The North Sea here is grey and real, the golden sand is wide and largely untouched, and the dune ridge behind you is a national park. Swim with care and never alone; the conditions are moderate but there's no one coming to help if things go wrong. What you get in return is one of the genuinely empty beaches left on the Dutch coast — not empty because it's hard to reach, but because most visitors don't bother walking past the busier spots. Come in June or July, bring a packed lunch, and stay until the light goes flat. Worth the ferry.
What to do
The national park dune system starts just 100 metres from the waterline, and a short walk reveals why Texel's dunes are protected at national level. Ecomare, about 3 km away, is a seal rescue and Wadden Sea nature centre worth a half-day — it puts the coastal ecosystem you're standing in into real context. Closer to De Koog, the Kindernatuurpad nature trail (2.2 km away) is a gentle introduction to island wildlife, and De Hertenkamp deer park (3.6 km) makes for an easy afternoon loop.
The paal 25 marker post against the wide dune ridge is the classic Texel shot — frame it low with the golden sand in the foreground and grey sky above.
The boardwalk cutting through the dunes photographs well in both directions, especially when morning mist sits in the hollows. At low tide, the broad wet foreshore mirrors the sky and gives you a near-symmetrical reflection shot with no other visitors in frame.
Where to eat
De Koog village sits right on the doorstep, with Dikke Zeehond, Bries20, and Restaurant Noordzee all within the village itself. Beachclub Texel, about 400 metres away, covers the international menu angle, while Taj Mahal (500 metres) is the go-to if you want something warming after a breezy afternoon on the sand. Pack a lunch for the beach itself — there is nothing to buy once you cross the dunes.
Where to stay
Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant De Cooghen and Hotel Zeerust are both within 500 metres of the beach access, making early-morning walks to an empty shore genuinely easy. Tesselhof and Bed & Breakfast De Zilvermeeuw sit just 600 metres out and offer a quieter, smaller-scale stay for those who prefer something less corporate.
Photography
The unbroken dune ridge makes a clean, graphic backdrop — shoot from the foreshore at low tide in the hour after sunrise when the golden sand picks up warm light against the grey sea. Late afternoon, when the North Sea sky turns pewter and the dunes cast long shadows, is equally strong for moody wide-angle frames.
Good to know
No lifeguard patrols this stretch — swim with caution and never alone, as conditions on the North Sea can shift quickly. There are zero facilities on the beach, so bring your own water and food before you leave De Koog. Dogs are prohibited from May through September, so plan your visit accordingly if you're travelling with a pet. Stay on the boardwalk when crossing the dunes — the protected dune system is fragile and leaving the path is against park rules.
Map
Nearby places
Dikke Zeehond
Bries20
Restaurant Noordzee
Beachclub Texel
Taj Mahal
Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant De Cooghen
Hotel Zeerust
Fletcher Hotel De Cooghen
Tesselhof
Bed & Breakfast De Zilvermeeuw
Things to see around Texel
Ecomare
Seal rescue and Wadden Sea nature centre.
De Koog village
Main tourist village on Texel.
Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel
National park dune system behind the beach.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
Nearest beaches
Other relaxed beaches in Netherlands
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — JelleS · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 2 — JelleS · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 3 — Rudolphous · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 4 — Rudolphous · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 5 — m66roepers from Nederland · source · CC BY 2.0
- Photo 6 — Ineke Huizing from Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands · source · CC BY 2.0