Restaurant in Texel, Netherlands
Award-winning wine list, book ahead.
Restaurant RJ holds a Star Wine List 2-Star Accreditation (2026), making it the most wine-credentialed dining option on Texel. Based in De Koog, it is the right choice for a special occasion dinner on the island — particularly if the wine list is central to your evening. Book ahead during peak summer season.
Restaurant RJ has a limited number of seats on Texel, a Dutch island with restricted dining capacity by nature — so if your evening is already planned around a special occasion, this is one to secure early rather than leave to chance. The wine program holds a 2-Star accreditation from the World's Leading Wine Lists (Star Wine List, 2026), which places it among a small group of Dutch restaurants where the list is genuinely worth your attention, not just a supporting act. If a serious wine pairing matters to your night, Restaurant RJ is the right call on the island.
De Koog is a small village on the western side of Texel, and Restaurant RJ sits at Kamperfoelieweg 1 — away from the busier parts of the island's tourist belt. The setting reads as composed rather than casual: this is the kind of room where the table is properly dressed and the lighting is considered, which makes it more suited to a celebration dinner, an anniversary, or a business meal where the atmosphere needs to carry some weight. For a quick bite after a day on the beach, there are easier options closer to the water.
The 2-Star wine accreditation from Star Wine List is the most verifiable signal of quality here. At this tier globally, venues typically carry lists with meaningful depth by region, producer-level selection rather than purely label recognition, and staff with the knowledge to guide you through it. On Texel specifically, that credential separates Restaurant RJ from the majority of island dining options, which tend toward direct food-and-wine pairings aimed at holiday turnover rather than considered service.
On the question of late-night dining: Texel is not a late-night island by reputation, and the ferry schedule from Den Helder shapes how most visitors plan their evenings. Restaurant RJ's position as the better-credentialed option on the island means it is likely to be the right choice when the evening is itself the event, not just a meal squeezed between other plans. If you are staying on the island overnight, this is the dinner to build your evening around rather than something to fit in at the end of it.
Booking here is rated easy, which is worth taking seriously given the island's seasonal visitor patterns. Texel fills up during Dutch summer holidays and long weekends, and a restaurant with genuine credentials tends to fill before the obvious tourist options do. Book ahead, especially if you are visiting between June and August or over Easter weekend.
See the comparison section below for how Restaurant RJ sits against other leading Dutch dining options.
It can work for a solo diner, particularly if you are interested in the wine list and want a more considered meal than Texel's casual beach-town options offer. That said, the special-occasion framing of the room may feel more rewarding with company. If you are dining solo and primarily wine-focused, it is worth calling ahead to ask about counter or bar seating, if available.
No confirmed information is available on dietary accommodation. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if you have specific requirements , this is standard practice at any venue operating at this level, and most will work with you given advance notice.
Booking is rated easy, but Texel has clear seasonal pressure: the island draws significant Dutch domestic tourism between June and August, and over public holiday weekends. For peak-season visits, booking two to three weeks ahead is sensible. Outside those windows, a week's notice is likely sufficient, though confirming directly is always the safer move for a special occasion dinner.
If you are willing to travel off the island, the Netherlands has a strong pool of fine-dining options at the €€€€ tier. De Librije in Zwolle is the reference point for the region at the leading end. 't Nonnetje in Harderwijk and De Lindehof in Nuenen offer creative Dutch cooking at a comparable price point. On Texel itself, the dining scene is small enough that Restaurant RJ's wine credentials give it a clear position above the general island offering for anyone prioritising quality over convenience.
Yes, this is the strongest case for booking here. The 2-Star wine accreditation from Star Wine List (2026) signals a list and a service approach that can carry a celebratory evening properly. The location in De Koog, away from the island's busier areas, adds a degree of seclusion that suits an anniversary or milestone dinner. Confirm pricing and availability directly before committing, and book ahead if the date matters.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant RJ | — | |
| De Librije | €€€€ | — |
| 't Nonnetje | €€€€ | — |
| De Lindehof | €€€€ | — |
| De Nieuwe Winkel | €€€€ | — |
| Fred | €€€€ | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Texel is a small island with limited seating across all its restaurants, and Restaurant RJ's address in De Koog suggests an intimate setting rather than a sprawling dining room. Solo diners can likely be accommodated, but with restricted capacity island-wide, calling ahead to confirm a single cover is worth doing. Its Star Wine List 2-Star accreditation makes it a strong solo choice if you want to eat and drink well on the island without compromise.
No dietary policy is documented for Restaurant RJ, so check the venue's official channels before booking — this matters more on Texel than on the mainland, since ingredient sourcing on an island can limit last-minute substitutions. The 2-Star Star Wine List accreditation signals a kitchen that takes hospitality seriously, which is generally a positive indicator, but confirm specifics in advance.
Book as early as possible, particularly if you're visiting in summer when Texel sees its highest tourist traffic. Dining capacity across the island is constrained by nature, and Restaurant RJ's award standing means it draws visitors who plan their trip around it. A minimum of two to three weeks ahead is a reasonable baseline; for weekend evenings in peak season, longer is safer.
Restaurant RJ is among the most credentialed dining options on Texel based on its 2-Star Star Wine List accreditation, which sets it apart from most island alternatives. For comparable Dutch fine dining off Texel, De Librije in Zwolle and De Lindehof in Nuenen carry Michelin recognition and offer a different benchmark entirely. If you're staying on the island, Restaurant RJ is the reference point to beat.
Yes — the 2-Star Star Wine List accreditation makes it the most credentialed option on Texel for a dinner that needs to deliver. The island setting in De Koog adds natural occasion weight without requiring the venue to manufacture atmosphere. Book well ahead, confirm any specific requirements directly, and it's a solid choice for a birthday, anniversary, or celebratory meal during a Texel stay.
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