Vuurtoren Eierland (Texel)

Why Eierland is worth the trip

The Vuurtoren Eierland stands at the very northern tip of Texel, tucked between dunes and the Waddenzee. The tower is painted red, nearly twenty metres tall, and was put into service in 1864. That red brick simply stands out on a grey morning. Combine that with the wilder dune vegetation of the Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel and you have a location that needs little preparation to come away with something good.

Light and season

Sunrise works well here. The light comes from the east, straight across the Waddenzee, and catches the tower low and warm. In summer there is already a sizeable queue of photographers early in the morning, but in autumn it quietens down. October and November bring rough, cloudy skies, sometimes mist drifting low across the dunes, and the vegetation shifts from green to dry yellow and brown. That contrast with the red brickwork is stronger than you might expect.

Compositions and focal lengths

Wide works well if you want to include the surroundings: a dune hollow in the foreground, the tower in the middle, sky above. But a longer focal length, 85mm or more, gives you the chance to isolate the tower and emphasise the texture of the brickwork. It is also worth walking around to the back of the tower. On the Wadden side you get a different perspective, without the tourist signage in the frame.

Practical

You drive via De Cocksdorp to the northernmost car park on Texel. From there it is about a ten-minute walk along a dune path to the tower. The tower itself is not always open to enter, but for photographers that matters less. Bear in mind that the path is unpaved and can get muddy in wet weather. Sturdy footwear is not a luxury. The area falls within the Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel, so stick to the paths and make sure you have a day ticket or annual pass for the park.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel
• VVV Texel
• Rijksmonumentenregister (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed)