Oudeschild is the only village on Texel that is located directly by the sea. In the harbour, low and high tides quietly do their own thing and you can watch it at your leisure! Several times a year the water rises so high that the quay overflows. But this no longer fazes the villagers of Oudeschild; what’s more, you can even take part in a High Tide dinner. A unique experience!

Home port

Oudeschild was always home to a sizeable Texel fishing fleet. Nowadays, you can still see some cutters there. Are you more interested in the past? From Oudeschild, you can go on a boat trip on the Wadden Sea and experience the illustrious Dutch East India Company history of the Texelse Reede at Museum Kaap Skil.

Fishing

There are several cutters in the harbour, which sail out every week. These cause a lot of activity in the port. The fishermen are often ashore on weekends, mending nets and carrying out maintenance. In addition, you can of course eat delicious fish on the harbor. There are several restaurants that serve fish specialties. It doesn't get any fresher!

The origin of Oudeschild

The village of Oudeschild originated in the beginning of the 17th century. The ships of The Dutch India Company which were anchored in the Reede van Texel, brought trade and prosperity to the area. Small boats used to transport barrels of drinking water from the wells of the Brakestein country estate via Skilsloot to the waiting ships in the Reede van Texel.

The Wezenputten

These wells were situated just outside Oudeschild and were called the ‘Wezenputten’ (Orphans’ Wells) because they were owned by the orphanage in Den Burg. Of the original five wells, two have survived and have been given municipal monument status. Several cycle and walking routes pass by the Wezenputten.

Reede van Texel

Back in the day, dozens of ships were often anchored in the Reede van Texel, waiting for favourable winds so they could stand out to sea. Texel was the starting point for many voyages of discovery, military and trade journeys. During storms, ships lying off Oudeschild harbour sometimes became involved in accidents, such as the disaster on Christmas Eve in 1593. During a violent storm, a number of ships came adrift, dragging many others along. In total, almost 200 ships sank that night.

Maria Tesselschade

One of the shipowners who lost ships in this disaster, Roemer Visscher, named his daughter, who was born in 1594, after this disaster: Maria Tesselschade.

Museum Kaap Skil

At Museum Kaap Skil in the centre of Oudeschild, you learn about beachcombing and the maritime history of Texel in general and Oudeschild in particular. You step into old fishermen’s cottages, there are rope-making and fish-smoking demonstrations, and you find out all about the Reede van Texel, the illustrious Dutch East India Company and naval heroes like Michiel de Ruyter, who were once very much part of the Oudeschild scenery.

Want to stay in Oudeschild? No problem! Check out the accommodation options in Oudeschild here.

Activities in Oudeschild