#1. Texel
Sweeping white-sand beaches, wildlife-rich nature reserves, sun-dappled forests and quaint villages are among the highlights of Texel (pronounced tes-sel), the largest and most visited of the Wadden Islands.
About 3km north of North Holland's coast, Texel is 25km long and 9km wide. Its typically flat Dutch landscape makes it idyllic for cycling. Sheep are everywhere across the island; the local wool is highly prized and there are numerous dairies producing cheese. During lambing season around Easter, you'll see bouncy lambs all over the island; locals enjoy taking a Lammetjes Wandeltrocht (walk to look at the lambs).
With enough diversions to keep you entertained for days on end, Texel is popular with Dutch and German visitors but otherwise little known, making it a wonderful place to explore.