Discover the Hoge Berg

The Doolhof is located towards the top of the Hoge Berg. The plot was originally known as ‘Engelsteen’ (Angel stone) and later as ‘Engelse steen’ (English stone). This is due to the large stone which lies on the highest point on the hill. Many people believed that the stone was so large that it led all the way underground, under the North Sea, to England. In the eighteenth century this story proved to be untrue. The stone was then buried by construction workers.

Pleasure garden

Cornelius Roepel was a high-ranking official of the Admirality, as the navy was known in those days. He bought the land on top of the Hoge Berg in 1764. The plot was known as ‘Engelsteen’ by then and was still grassland. Roepel planted a pleasure garden, including a star-shaped woodland and pleasant footpaths. From the view point at the top of the hill, walkers could look out upon the Texel Roads. To the east of this view, a number of straight footpaths were laid, more or less in star form. The paths were lined by hedges. Roepel entertained his guests here in fine weather.

Sand quarry

The eastern part of the plot was used for extracting clay loam before Roepel bought the plot. Loam was used in the construction of house foundations. Through the centuries, so much loam was extracted that a deep quarry was created. The deed of sale stated that it was no longer permitted to sell or extract loam from the plot. This was however still possible in the neighbouring plot in the hamlet: the Zandkuil.

Maze or woods?

To the west of the line of view, Roepel had a meandering maze laid. Via a spiral shaped path, the visitor could walk into the centre of the maze and then out again by way of a different spiral. It wasn’t a real maze as you couldn’t actually get lost in it. The term ‘maze’ does not appear in the early deeds of sale, from 1786 and 1794. In these, the plot is referred to as the ‘Woods previously known as the English Stone’. Texel inhabitants still refer to the place as ‘t Bossie’ (the woods).

The oldest woods on Texel

In 1786, the woods fell into ownership of private Texel owners. In the course of the nineteenth century there was less and less money for the intensive maintenance of the hedges and trees were no longer being pruned either. In this way, one of the oldest woodlands on Texel came into existence. The woodlands in the Dennen and around the Krim were planted much later.

Free access

In the nineteenth century, ’t Bossie’ became a popular place for outings amongst Texel families. In 1840, the municipality bought the plot from the heirs of mayor Reinbach. In 1966, the municipality sold the land to the forestry management organization ‘Staatsbosbeheer’, with the express intention of maintaining the function of the land for recreational use.

Seven pancakes

Story goes that the ‘English Stone’ may once have been a sacrificial stone for pagan rituals. The stone was buried as people didn’t want to have anything to do with these practices. An extra mound of earth also suited Roepel’s park design. The mound was constructed with seven stacked layers of sand. This was the origin of the name ‘De Zeven Pannenkoeken’ (the seven pancakes).

Restoration plan

In 2020 and 2021, much of the original character of the original pleasure gardens was restored to its former glory by the current owner, Staatsbosbeheer. The view from the top of the hill towards the former Texel Roads was opened up again, as was the view line towards Brakestein. The footpaths and the meandering maze were made accessible by clearing vegetation. New hedges were planted with a preference for natural hedge formations. The seven steps of the ‘seven pancakes’ were reinstalled, with rings of Corten steel keeping the sand in place. This rust-coloured steel is a reminder of the iron-rich water from the Wezenputten wells. The staircase into the quarry has also been replaced.

Non-native plants

Another feature of the restoration plan was the planting of original ‘stinzenplanten’. These are plants which were once introduced into the area by man but then became wild, such as wood anemones, bluebells, arums and extra snowdrops. Owners of country houses often showed off their wealth with an abundance of these non-native plants.

Farmers, fishers and country folk

This restoration plan was part of the project ‘Boeren, Vissers en Buitenlui’ (farmers, fishers and country folk), financed by the Waddenfonds, StiftTexel and the Province of North Holland.