Texel — De Cocksdorp (Eyerland)

Setting Your Anchor

1. Check tidal height for your arrival time using Waddengids or Rijkswaterstaat tidal tables
2. Plan arrival at HW -2 for tidal locations; IJsselmeer anchorages are non-tidal — arrive any time
3. Navigate daylight only in all Wadden and coastal channels; IJsselmeer night sailing permitted with care
4. Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — before going below or sleeping

About This Anchorage

De Cocksdorp is the northernmost village on Texel, a small settlement of about 700 inhabitants at the tip of the island. The area is known for the Eyerland lighthouse (1875) and the dramatic tidal meeting point between the Texelstroom (main channel to Vlieland) and the Marsdiep. The anchorage here is used primarily as a passage stop when waiting for a fair tide through the Texelstroom or when conditions in the main Wadden crossing routes are unfavourable. The north coast of Texel (De Hors, national park) faces the open North Sea — completely exposed and not an anchorage. This is a more exposed and less comfortable overnight option than Oudeschild, but useful for tactical tidal timing.

Hazards

• !Texelstroom carries 3kt at springs — anchor well clear; strong stream makes anchoring uncomfortable in certain states of tide
• !Exposed to N and NW — uncomfortable in northerly or northwesterly conditions; not suitable for overnight in any N wind
• !Tidal range 1.8m — check depth carefully at LW
• !Remote location — nearest proper harbour is Oudeschild (12nm) or Oost-Vlieland (8nm)
• !Shifting sandbanks near north tip — use current electronic charts; the Waddengids shows current channel positions

Skipper's Tips

• →Use this anchorage as a waiting point for a fair tide through Texelstroom — the ebb runs strongly NE; the flood SW
• →The Eyerland lighthouse can be seen from the anchorage — excellent reference point for GPS cross-check
• →Walk to De Cocksdorp village (0.5km) for a meal before the morning passage — small but good local café
• →Best used as a daytime stop rather than overnight — move to Vlieland or Terschelling for night
• →Grey seals are regularly seen in the Texelstroom channel area — keep engine noise low and stay 100m clear

Nearby Anchorages