Human jaw with gold teeth found on Wijk aan Zee beach
A jawbone containing several gold teeth was discovered on Wijk aan Zee beach last Thursday morning, prompting a police investigation into its possible human origin. Henk Muskee, a resident of Heemskerk, reported the find during a routine walk with his dog near the Noordpier.
Authorities plan to send the jaw to the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) to attempt DNA extraction. Police will compare any DNA obtained with national databases to determine whether it matches missing persons.
Muskee, who regularly collects washed-up objects along the shoreline, noticed a gold-colored glint in the sand. “I first stepped on it with my foot. When I picked it up, I immediately realized it was a bone. I wasn’t shocked because I often see bones on the beach, but the gold teeth made it exceptional,” he told NH.
Unable to hand it over to anyone at the beach, Muskee took the jaw home and contacted beach volunteer Ruud van Wilgenburg. “He had the jaw loose in his hands and gave it to me. Not long after, the police were called, and the jaw, which is likely human, was handed over to the officers. That’s when I put it in a sealable bag,” Van Wilgenburg said.
A police spokesperson confirmed the find and said the jawbone is under investigation. “We were called to this report last Thursday,” the spokesperson said. “It is most likely a human lower jaw, but further investigation is needed to be certain.”
Forensic experts reviewing photographs of the jaw described it as “very human” but cautioned that replicas exist. They noted that the jaw appears to have been exposed for an extended period, possibly weeks to years. “Given the gold in the lower jaw, it seems the person received dental treatments multiple times. There are enough clues to potentially link the case to a reported missing person,” one expert told NH.
While Muskee has frequently found animal bones on local beaches, he described this discovery as extraordinary. “It doesn’t happen every month, but it occurs more than once. Think of the femur found recently,” he told the newspaper.
