From March 24th to 28th 2025, the 6th EWA study tour took place on the beautiful Frisian island of Texel. Since we saw so many things and met so many interesting people, I will write three entries for each full day on Texel. I hope to cover everything and don’t leave out any important information.
On Monday, March 24th, 6 women from different European countries came to Texel: two sheep owners from Iceland, two sheep owners from Finland, one without any sheep from Spain (me) and another from Wales (also without sheep). On Tuesday, our adventure started…
Our first stop was at a typical barn on Texel: The shape of the barn is very peculiar: one side is flat/vertical as if the house was cut in half. This side was directed to the northeast (if I’m not mistaken) because the wind usually blows from the southwest, so when the farmers stored the hay into the barn, they had less wind on that side with the door.
These barns are not in much use nowadays but this one in particular serves as an art exhibition: The artist Ericka Voortman shows her art in this former sheep barn, the ‘Boetje van Klemat’, near Den Hoorn since 2013. The current exhibition is called ‘The Awakening of Rosie Thorn’ and reminds the visitors of universal themes such as loss, separation, and awakening. Ericka has used a lot of sheep wool in her artistic pieces.
Our host of the tour, Renske van den Tempel, explained to us how the sheep have influenced Texel’s landscape and culture. One of the interesting features were the grass-sod dykes that surrounded the pastures for the sheep. Today, the islanders receive money from the municipalities to keep these dykes in good condition. Another feature are the circular fresh water ponds.
Before lunch, we visited the first sheep farm of three that day: the owners prefer the more traditional look of the Texel sheep. We saw many mother sheep in their pens with up to three lambs in them. If a lamb isn’t accepted by its mother or for any other reason won’t be fed by her, there are goats happily adopting those orphaned lambs.
We had lunch at the Cultural Historical Museum of Texel in the small village of De Waal. The museum had lots of information about the daily work on Texel’s farms in the past. They also had an interesting poster of all the sheep breeds in The Netherlands.
Then we spent visiting two more sheep farms: the first one had even more sheep than the one in the morning. There we were shown three different kinds of shearing methods. The first sheep was sheared with blades, the second and third with electric shears: first the traditional way (one side of the sheep is sheared with the right hand and then the other half with the left hand) and the last one the most efficient way almost all sheep are sheared nowadays.
The most beautiful fleece of the three will be sent to the EWA European Fleece Competition in August this year in Finland.
The third sheep farm was specialized in breeding for studshows: the owner showed us how he prepares a ram for such a show. First, the tail gets a shave to highlight its triangular shape, then the locks of the fleece get trimmed to show off the legs. I think, last year one of the rams was a national champion of the Netherlands.
After a relaxed dinner we had the oportunity to meet the local wool guild in the evening: There were a lot of skilled women, among them some felters, knitters, crocheters and spinners. Everybody enjoyed each others company and we all tried to spin some Texel wool on hand spindles. The meeting place was the workshop of a local felter, Rebecca Geskus, her brand is Texelsvilt.
