TEXELFANS
Anyone visiting Texel with children simply must walk the Sommeltjespad. This short walking route through the forest near De Koog is exactly the kind of outing that makes children happy: outdoors, adventurous, and just a little bit mysterious.
Searching for the Sommeltjes
The path is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and starts at the Pelikaanweg near De Koog. The route runs through the forest, making it a lovely thing to do even on warm days. Along the way, children go in search of Sommeltjes: small Texel earthmen who, according to legend, come to life at night. As soon as day breaks, they turn to stone. So look carefully between the trees, by tree roots, and along the path, because before you know it, you'll spot one.
A scavenger hunt for children
What makes the Sommeltjespad so much fun is that walking suddenly becomes a scavenger hunt for children. They don't have to "just walk a loop", but get to search, discover and fantasise. You'll also come across delightful details along the way related to the nature on Texel. This makes the path not only fun, but educational too.
Ideal for young children
For young children, the distance is very manageable. You're not out for hours, but you really feel like you've been on a bit of an adventure. It's ideal for a morning or afternoon in between other activities, for example before heading to the beach or after a visit to De Koog.
Small loop, big adventure
Perhaps bring some drinks or a snack, put on shoes that are allowed to get dirty, and let the children look for the Sommeltjes themselves. There's a good chance they'll want to take one last look afterwards to see if one of them didn't move after all.
In short: the Sommeltjespad is an accessible, free, and magical outing for families on Texel. A small loop, a big adventure.
