Den Helder is about 80 km north of Amsterdam. By train, the NS intercity service runs direct from Amsterdam Centraal, taking around 75 minutes. The train station is a short walk from the ferry terminal and the waterfront.
By car, take the A9 north then the N9 through Noord-Holland. Parking near the ferry terminal is straightforward. The ferry to Texel departs from the TESO terminal at the northern end of the waterfront and runs roughly every hour; crossing time is about 20 minutes.