An Unlocked Door and a Deeper Sense of Safety
What a stay on Texel showed me about safety, hospitality, and respect
There’s something about islands that has always drawn me in. Maybe it’s the sense of being surrounded by nature, maybe it’s the slower rhythm, or maybe it’s that special feeling of being just a little removed from the rest of the world.
I’ve always felt that way with the Hawaiian Islands, my favorite place on earth, where the Aloha spirit means kindness, respect, and living in harmony. But recently, I felt a little bit of that same magic much closer to home on Texel and Vlieland, two of the Dutch Waddeneilanden.
The culture on these islands feels very different from the fast-paced life in the Randstad (the area of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht).
Anyway, the Randstad with its constant motion, busy streets, and overflowing schedules feels a world away from the islands.
And honestly… I needed that. I needed a pause. So, I am taking a break. For two weeks.
A Short Ferry Trip and a Lot of TRUST
What struck me most during this two-day trip was trust.
We took a ferry from the north of Texel to Vlieland: a little adventure in itself. The ferry ride was shorter than expected; however, we were dropped off right on the beach, and a large safari-style jeep bus took us over the sand plain to our drop-off point at the Posthuys Vlieland.
Driving over the sand plain, I remember looking out the window thinking, “Wait… how did I not know this existed?” These sand plains are called the Sahara of the North.
The Netherlands still has places that surprise me. I loved that feeling.
This time, I hadn’t made any bike rental reservations in advance. No problem at all. At the Posthuys, the guy from the bike rental shop just smiled and said, “Just take the bikes. Bike to our shop in Oost-Vlieland, and you can pay for the bikes there.”
I was surprised and impressed at the same time. No contracts, no ID check, no credit card swipes. Just… trust.
And you know what? That small moment felt huge to me. It made my day and it felt just like the Aloha spirit.
A Door Left Open
Later that evening, back on Texel, that same feeling returned. I had booked a small hotel/B&B Hotel Het Anker van Texel with a maximum of 10 rooms.
When we arrived, the front door was unlocked. No reception desk, no one waiting. Just a note in the breakfast room with our names, some instructions, and a room key lying next to it.
At first, it almost felt strange. I stood there for a second thinking, “Is this… okay?” But then… it just felt right. Peaceful, actually. The door didn’t need to be locked.
And the funny thing is… I felt safer there, with an unlocked door, than I feel in my own home.
That was my WOUW moment during this trip.
Safety, whether at work, in a relationship, or in your home, has always been the most important thing for me.
And there I was… feeling truly safe with the front door unlocked.
The Deeper Lesson
This trip wasn’t just about the Sahara of the North or the friendly people. It reminded me of something bigger: trust is powerful. It changes how you move through life.
“When someone trusts you, even a stranger, it creates space. Space to breathe, to relax, to feel safe, and to trust yourself in return.”
And maybe… that’s what I’ve been looking for more lately.
Like everyone else, I have my struggles. Moments when life feels heavy. Days when motivation is low, or when I feel overwhelmed, sad, or stuck.
My blogs are never about pretending that life is perfect. Writing them is about noticing the small lessons that show up every day. Often when I least expect them.
This trip taught me to slow down even more, to notice the good, and to remember that most people are good. And that sometimes, the smallest gestures like an unlocked door, a bike loaned on trust, or a smile from a stranger can shift something deep inside.
A Thought to Take With You
As I ferried back to the mainland, I asked myself: What would it look like to live more like this every day? To carry a little more trust into my regular life?
It’s a question I don’t fully have the answer to yet. But I do know this that slowing down, being present, and choosing trust over fear feels like a pretty good place to start.
