Travelling to Texel​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"Sweeping white-sand beaches, wildlife-rich nature reserves, sun-dappled forests and quaint villages are among the highlights of Texel,

the largest and most visited of the Wadden Islands."

– Lonely Planet –

The island of Texel lies about 100 km north of Schiphol Amsterdam Airport and can be reached conveniently by public transport (train, bus, and ferry) or car (and ferry).

By public transport

Your destination is the address Texel, Den Hoorn, North Holland. You can plan your total trip very conveniently online through 9292ov.nl.

Train schedules, arrivals and departures can be checked online or through the app, which is available through the App Store or Google Play.

Transport to the TESO ferry terminal (Train + Bus)

Important updates

Due to construction work on railway tracks during 8–24 March, it takes up to (at least) 30 minutes more to travel to Den Helder by public transportation. Because of this inconvenience the conference organization is offering a free bus transport from Alkmaar directly to the hotels on Texel at 2.15 PM and 4.15 PM (for those who registered in advanced).

Arrival with the conference bus (2.15 PM and 4.15 PM)

if you registered for the bus from Alkmaar at 2.15 or 4.15 PM, do arrive on time. The bus will not wait (has to be on time for the ferry to Texel). The bus will wait on the city center side of the Alkmaar station (when you leave the platform, go up the stairs and turn left towards city center). Either Corina or Guy will be there beside the bus.

Train to Alkmaar:

• From Schiphol Amsterdam airport: Take any train that stops at ‘Amsterdam Sloterdijk’ railway station. There, take the train to the city of 'Alkmaar'.

• From Amsterdam Central Station, Amsterdam-Sloterdijk station, or Utrecht Central Station: Take the direct train to the city of ‘Alkmaar’.

Transport to the TESO ferry terminal by public transportation (Train + Bus)

Construction work at train station Schiphol Airport:

From Wednesday 12 March to Wednesday 26 March there will be disturbance to various platforms at Schiphol Airports. Fewer trains are running to, from, and via Schiphol Airport, and they depart from different platforms than you are used to.

Construction work railway: from Heerhugowaard to Den Helder (and vice versa)

Due to construction work on railway tracks during 8–24 March, it takes up to (at least) 30 minutes more to travel to Den Helder by public transportation.

Please note the following changes have been made to the regular train services:

• There will be replacement buses running between Heerhugowaard, Schagen, Anna Paulowna, Den Helder Zuid, and Den Helder.

• There will be express buses running between Heerhugowaard and Den Helder.

• Intercity 3000 Nijmegen–Den Helder will not run between Heerhugowaard and Den Helder.

• See an example itinerary from Schiphol Airport (a train to Amsterdam Sloterdijk, a train to Heerhugowaard and an express bus to Den Helder)

We advise you to check online at 9292OV or NS for your up-to-date travel itinerary.

Bus to the TESO ferry terminal

Once you have arrived in Den Helder, take bus 33 to the TESO ferry terminal. This bus departs every 12 minutes past the hour from the bus terminal directly next to Den Helder railway station. You can also walk from the train station to the TESO ferry terminal (~25 minutes). Take a look at the route here.

Taking the TESO ferry to Texel

The TESO ferry leaves Den Helder on an hourly service at every 30 minutes past the hour (XX:30 hrs). The crossing to Texel takes only 20 minutes. Detailed information about the tickets and timetables can be found on the TESO website. Tickets can be purchased online (in advance) or real time at the ticketing machine or ticketing desk. The return journey does not require a ticket. Take into consideration that the last ferry leaves at 9.30pm.

Arrival to hotels

Hotel rooms are booked and pre-paid at Hotel Lindeboom in Den Burg or at Van der Valk Hotel Texel in De Koog.

On the day of arrival, it takes 15 or 30 minutes by bus or by a reserved minibus (Texel Hopper) from the ferry terminal to the hotels. To take the public transportation, make sure you exit the ferry on the righthand side. Like all other Dutch public transport, you can ‘tap in/ tap out’ with your card or pay app, but cash is not accepted in the bus. The ticket cost is: €3.05. You can also buy a ticket in advance.

Hotel Lindeboom

Transportation during the conference days from/to the hotel is included.

On the day of arrival, it takes 15 minutes by bus from the ferry terminal to get to Hotel Lindeboom. To take the bus, make sure you exit the ferry on the righthand side (otherwise you will miss the bus). Take bus 28 (direction De Koog via Den Burg) and exit at bus-stop at Elemert/Centrum. From there it is a 3-minute walk to the hotel.

Hotel Lindeboom

Groeneplaats 14

1791 CC Den Burg-Texel

The Netherlands

+31 222 312 041

info@lindeboomtexel.nl

Van der Valk Hotel Texel

Transportation during the conference days from/to the hotel is included. On the day of arrival, it takes 30 minutes by bus from the ferry terminal to get to Van der Valk Hotel Texel. The quickest option to get to the hotel is to order a Texel Hopper online or call to 0222-784000 (From Pontweg Veerhaven, 't Horntje (1-1) to De Pelikaan, De Koog (141-10)). Make a reservation at least 30 minutes prior to your preferred departure time and make sure you exit the ferry on the righthand side. Travelling by the Texel Hopper drops you off right at the hotel's entrance.

The other option is to take the regular bus. Make sure you exit the ferry on the righthand side (otherwise you will miss the bus). Take bus 28 (direction De Koog via Den Burg) and exit at busstop Pontweg-Pelikaanweg. From there is it a 10-minute walk to the hotel

Van der Valk Hotel Texel

Pelikaanweg 18

1796 NR De Koog-Texel

The Netherlands

+31 222 317 202

Info@texel.valk.com

Arrival to NIOZ from the TESO ferry terminal

If you do not take the organized transportation during the conference, you can easily commute to NIOZ directly. NIOZ is located next to the ferry terminal. it takes only a 5-minute walk to reach the main entrance.

Buying public transportation tickets

Buying a train (e-)ticket

Order your ticket online in advance:

1. Go to Travel planner | Plan your journey | NS or download the NS app

2. Insert your departure station, arrival station ‘Den Helder’, date and preferred time.

3. Click on the button ‘Order train ticket’ and follow the process steps.

4. Payment can be done by creditcard or Ideal (Yoursafe, Revolut and N26 are available for non-residents).

Buy a ticket at an NS ticketing machine:

1. Find an NS ticket machine.

2. Indicate that you are going to station Den Helder and second class. This is a train that directly goes to Den Helder from Amsterdam Central station, Amsterdam Sloterdijk station, Zaandam station or Utrecht Central station.

Use OV Pay

You should be able to travel without an actual (e-)ticket by using your debit and/or credit card.

How it works: Hold your contactless debit or credit card or your mobile phone up to the card reader at the entrance gate of the station. A single beep means you've checked in. To ensure you use the right card, take the one you want out of your wallet. At your destination, hold the same card you checked in with up to the card reader at the exit gates of the station, just as with any public transport smart card. Two beeps means you’ve checked out. The payment is processed automatically.

You will see the amount with the description NLOV on your statement the next day. The price you pay will be the same as a standard ticket or trip with the OV-chipkaart without subscriptions or discounts. You can review your travel itinerary from a previous Day using the web tool: Enter the 14-digit payment reference number (appears on your bank statement next to NLOV) and the amount that was debited from your account.

What can I use to check in and out?

You can check in and out with:

1. Contactless debits card from ABN AMRO, ASN bank, bunq, ING, Rabobank, Knab, Regiobank, SNS or Triodos

2. Contactless credit cards from Mastercard and Visa (issued by ICS).

3. Smartphones that are set up with contactless payment with a card from above-mentioned debit and credit cards.

4. Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

5. A foreign contactless debit or credit cards from Maestro, V pay, Mastercard or Visa

You won't need an OV-chipkaart or subscription. No registration is necessary.

By car

Instructions for your navigation

City: 'Den Helder', Street 'Havenplein 3'. This is the address of the TESO ferry terminal (Once in Den Helder, follow the direction ‘Boot Texel’).

You can either take your car on the ferry or leave it behind at the parking lot next to the ferry terminal in Den Helder (we do not advise this if you own a really beautiful car).

From Amsterdam to Den Helder

Travel north along highway A7. Leave the highway near the village of ‘Den Oever’ and travel along the N99 and the N250 to Den Helder.

From Haarlem / Alkmaar to Den Helder

Travel north on the A9 to the city of Alkmaar and continue on the N9/N250 to Den Helder (80 km/h max, regular speed checks!).

From Friesland / Groningen / Bremen to Den Helder

Travel (south-)west along highway A7 over the ‘Afsluitdijk’, which separates the Wadden Sea from the ‘IJsselmeer’ (lake IJssel). Leave the highway directly after the sluices at the end of the ‘Afsluitdijk’ near the village of ‘Den Oever’ and follow the N99/N250 in the direction of Den Helder.