De Hors and pale blue skies

Yesterday I started my 'tour' around the Mokbaai to the far most southern tip of Texel: De Hors - a walk of in total 14 kilometres, if you include the walking path around the Horsmeertjes, two lakes close to the coastal dunes. I missed the golden light of the low-angle sun in the sky, although the pale blue and purple clouds made the scenery of coastal deserts a bit mysterious and gloomy.

The coastal sand dunes of De Hors are formed and shaped by the wind, sand and pioneer species like marram grass. Marram grass is well adapted to the harsh conditions of salt spray, shifting sands and high winds: (1) deep roots capture blown sand, (2) the roots bind the sand together, (3) the roots are able to reach the water table and (4) the fibres of the roots can produce nitrogen compounds and protected stomata. Stomata are pores in the structure of the grass halms, which help in the process of photosynthesis to produce oxygen, the air we breathe in. Stomata also help the marram grass for the evaporation of fluids, through small openings in the surface of the grass halm.

New dunes are being formed

All kinds of structures in the sand

De Hors is partly owned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence and I came across tracks of a very large vehicle on the border of the Horsmeertjes. The terrain is mainly used for amphibious training, while still keeping in mind that the terrain is vulnerable and precious as an ecosystem. During trainings, the Navy is extra careful for this vulnerability, especially in relation to breeding birds like the little tern in spring. Breeding grounds that most likely will be chosen by the birds are fenced off beforehand. The terrain where new dunes are formed is also not used for trainings.

The southern part of the Hors is a large coastal plain, constantly changing by the influence of the sea. The last shoal that formed and became vast land, coming together with De Hors, was Onrust in 1910. Nowadays a sandplate known as Noorderhaaks or Razende bol (Raging ball) is moving closer to Marsdiep at a pace of around 100 metres a year. The area is a valuable location for seabirds and seals, and also... for the Navy.

Source: Brochure of Staatsbosbeheer 'Wandelen - De Geul en Bollekamer in het Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel' 2008

Reflections of the blue and purple sky
- coastal dunes of De Hors

Water always finds its way into the coastal dunes
of De Hors - high water levels or rain pools