De Waal

De Waal is Texel's smallest village. Its beautiful historic houses, farms and church on the terp mound give it a serene beauty. The varied landscape around De Waal also has a rich history. Agricultural Nature and Landscape Association De Lieuw Texel has set out a walking route here, inspired by the legend of the ´Sommeltjes´ (gnomes) around the Sommeltjesberg in the hamlet of Bargen. This now-excavated burial mound was said to be inhabited by thousands of gnomes measuring 60 to 90 centimetres tall. They roamed the island at night and could make themselves invisible and enter through any opening in a house. The Sommeltjes hid during the day as the sun's rays would turn them to stone. That's why they are now often depicted as stones with faces. There are two such ‘stone’ gnomes next to the Waelstee Texel heritage museum. Housed in two old stolp farmhouses, the museum presents a multifaceted picture of life on Texel in earlier times. More information: www.museumtexel.nl.

• On the 't Sommelpaadje Walk (green), ANLV De Lieuw Texel shows you the many facets of De Waal and its surroundings. The route passes garden walls, sheep pastures and the picturesque village streets. You walk along Texel's oldest dike and through the Waalenburg polder. Of course, you will learn about the legend and possibly even see some Sommeltjes along the way...