De Bollekamer is a dune area between Hoornderslag and Jan Ayeslag. It is one of the oldest dune areas on Texel. It used to be an inhabited area called 'Borcamer', where mainly fishermen settled.

Wet and soggy

The eastern part of the Bollekamer contains boulder clay, a soil that does not permeate groundwater. This leads to high groundwater levels, making the area more wet and boggy. The western part is mainly formed by the Moksloot valley. Once, the Moksloot belonged to the Wadden Sea; until the early 18th century, this stretch of land was known as the Spanjaardsgat, which served as a passage for ships to the sea.

Plants and animals

In the valleys of the Bollekamer grows heather that turns a beautiful purple colour in the summer season. Other plants that grow in this area are bell gentian, sundew, heather, bog fluff and tine pondweed. Other animals found in the Bollekamer include Black Angus cattle, water shrews, water voles, water voles, rabbits, blue and brown harriers, sandhill beetles and ant lions.

Hiking

Several walking routes are marked in the Bollekamer, including the route 'Along Large Grazers'. You can park your car along the Hoornderslag at post 9, where the route marked with blue posts starts. Fancy a longer walk? Then you can also follow the yellow posts, which you will come across during the walk. On the longer route, you pass several bunkers of Kustbatterij Den Hoorn. At the Loodsmansduin lookout point, there is also a bunker you can visit.

Other nature reserves on Texel