Texel — Oudeschild & Mokbaai
Mokbaai · Oudeschild anchorage · Texel Waddenzee
53°02.6'N 04°51.2'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m on sand/mud in 2–5m with 1.8m tidal swing. Use 5:1 scope minimum. The Marsdiep carries heavy traffic — anchor well within designated area and monitor AIS for Navy and ferry movements.
Setting Your Anchor
- Check tidal height for your arrival time using Waddengids or Rijkswaterstaat tidal tables
- Plan arrival at HW -2 for tidal locations; IJsselmeer anchorages are non-tidal — arrive any time
- Navigate daylight only in all Wadden and coastal channels; IJsselmeer night sailing permitted with care
- Set your anchor alarm immediately after anchoring — before going below or sleeping
About This Anchorage
Texel is the largest Dutch Wadden island (population 13,500, length 26km), just 20 minutes by ferry from Den Helder — 20 crossings daily make it the most accessible of all the Wadden islands. Oudeschild on the Waddenzee (east) side is the working fishing harbour with a strong maritime character, far removed from the tourist resorts on the west coast. The Mokbaai offers the primary anchorage: a sheltered sandy bay suitable for overnight stops in settled weather. The Maritiem & Jutters Museum in Oudeschild covers the remarkable tradition of North Sea beachcombing (jutting) — centuries of salvage from wrecks. The Texel Brewery produces the acclaimed Skuumkoppe and seasonal brews, sold from harbour shops. The island has an extraordinary range of habitats: De Slufter (tidal inlet, seals), De Hoge Berg (clay hills, orchids), and 50km of cycling trails through nature reserves.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Harbour fee approx €15–20/night; Mokbaai anchorage free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Anchor only in designated areas; no anchoring in Texelstroom or Marsdiep fairways; De Slufter and De Hors nature reserves closed in nesting season (April–July); daylight navigation only in Wadden channels.
Hazards
- !Marsdiep channel — 3–4kt tidal streams at springs; one of the busiest shipping lanes in Netherlands; Dutch Navy (RNLN) vessels from Den Helder base
- !Tidal range 1.8m — anchorage can be shallow at LW for deeper-draft vessels
- !Ferry traffic (Texel–Den Helder, 20 crossings/day) in Marsdiep — monitor AIS and VHF Ch 16
- !Exposed to W and NW in Mokbaai — uncomfortable and potentially untenable in W gales
- !Nature reserve closures April–July — check Rijkswaterstaat signage before approaching De Slufter
Skipper's Tips
- →Hire bicycles at Oudeschild harbour for the 50km island circuit — cycle paths connect all villages and nature reserves
- →The Maritiem & Jutters Museum is one of the best maritime museums in the Netherlands — worth a full afternoon
- →Time arrival for HW -2hrs via Marsdiep/Oudeschild channel — avoid the 3kt ebb against you
- →Texel lamb (Texels lam) is the local speciality — available in harbour restaurants from April onwards
- →De Slufter (northwest tip) offers seal-watching from designated viewing points without disturbing the colony
Facilities
Oudeschild fishing harbour has restaurants and fresh fish shops. Supermarket in Den Burg (main town, 5km). Full provisions on island.
Nearest provisions: Oudeschild village (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
May–September. Most accessible Wadden island. Peak summer (July–August) very busy. Spring best for wildlife and fewer crowds. Texel lamb season peaks April–June.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
In the Texelstroom and North Holland waters, tidal currents can drag your anchor without warning. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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