Sights in The North & East
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Maritime & Beachcombers Museum
The Maritime & Beachcombers Museum is a real winner. Its extraordinary variety of junk recovered from sunken ships and the shore is mind-boggling – and both tragic and comic . In the outdoor section there are demonstrations by rope-makers, fish-smokers and blacksmiths, while the indoor displays cover everything from underwater archaeology to windmill technology. Reede van Texel, which the museum translates accurately as Texel Roads, has nothing to do with asphalt but rather is a vast and amazingly detailed model of the shipping lanes and ports as they existed in the 17th century. Two hours will float away here just like a lost bottle at sea.
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Ecomare
Initially created as a refuge for sick seals retrieved from the Waddenzee, Ecomare has expanded into a nature centre devoted to the preservation and understanding of Texel’s wildlife. It has displays on Texel’s development since the last ice age, islanders’ interaction with the sea, large aquariums filled with fish from the Waddenzee and the North Sea (including sharks and sea skates), while outside there are marked nature trails.
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Eureka Orchideeën & Vogelbush
June is the time to see wild orchids on Texel, a rarity in the country; outside this month, dress lightly and head for the steamy Eureka Orchideeën & Vogelbush. Native orchid species can be viewed in all their tender, quivering glory alongside a menagerie of tropical birds in a large greenhouse.
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A
Synagogues
There are a few working synagogues left in the country. It began life a century ago as a mosque (the light arches and minarets are dead giveaways) but now houses a school and temporary exhibition space; its beautifully restored wooden ceiling is one of the interior’s highlights.
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B
Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum
The Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum is well funded and well organised. The museum is laid out over several floors of buildings that once comprised a 16th-century distillery. Just getting through the labyrinth of 18 rooms is an adventure in itself and guarantees an excellent workout.
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C
Martinikerk
The 16th-century Martinikerk is at the northern corner of the Grote Markt. Its tower, the Martinitoren, is 96m tall and is considered to have one of the most finely balanced profiles in the country. A climb to the top yields stellar views.
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Lighthouse
Texel’s lighthouse opened to visitors in 2009. Battered not just by storms but by war as well, this 45m crimson tower has views across the islands and shallow waters. The climb to the top is 153 steps.
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D
Groninger Museum
Occupying three islands in the middle of the canal in front of the station, the museum is, at the very least, a striking structure that will draw an opinion from any observer. Opinions vary wildly.
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E
Prinsenhof Gardens
If you're exploring the northeastern corner of the city, take a breather at the serene Prinsenhof Gardens, the gardens of a 16th-century mansion.
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F
Gardens
Take a breather at the serene gardens of Prinsenhof, a 16th-century mansion.
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G
Town Hall
The Town Hall is an eye-catching building on the Grote Markt which dates back to 1810.
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