A tidal salt marsh behind a gap in the dune wall, purple with sea lavender in high summer.
Everywhere else on this coast the dunes hold the sea out. Here they do not, and salt water floods a valley twice a day, which is why the plants growing in it are ones you will not find elsewhere on the island. Sea lavender turns the whole basin purple in summer. More than three hundred bird species have been recorded and around eighty breed each spring, so binoculars earn their weight. The full walk is roughly four kilometres from the stairs at the Zanddijk car park; the viewpoint at the top of those stairs gives you most of the view for none of the effort.
Highlights
- Tidal salt marsh
- Sea lavender in summer
- Over 300 bird species
Insider tips
- →Go early — it is one of the few places here that empties out completely.
- →It can flood or close a few times a year after storms, so check before you ride out.
FAQ
Do I need to book De Slufter ahead?
Is this a good first-time visitor choice?
Where you'll find it
Texel, Netherlands
Traveler confidence
Reviews are opening in launch mode. The moderation rules are visible now so trust is built before scale.
We publish traveler reviews after moderation, reject operator self-reviews, and separate editorial picks from paid partnerships.
