Amber
Amber is the gold of the North. The best time to look for amber is after a big storm that has yanked the amber off the bottom of the sea and onto the shore.
Most amber is washed ashore south of Blåvandshuk but it is possible to find the golden nuggets all the way up the west coast. It is hard to point out the exact conditions in which to look for amber but a quiet day with offshore wind in high tide after a good southwestern storm is often mentioned as ideal conditions. The amber is usually located among mussels, starfish, wood and seaweed. The coveted “gold of the beach” is lighter than stone and sounds like plastic when carefully knocked against the teeth. Every day, people walk around stooping by the edge of the water hoping to find a unique little souvenir.
The countless shapes of amber can be seen in a permanent exhibition at the new Tirpitz Museum which opens in Blåvand in the summer of 2017. Here is amber amulets of ancient times, amber with encapsulated insects aged millions of years and a display of how amber has been used decoratively throughout the centuries.
- Fall and winter are widely regarded as the best seasons for finding amber.
- Amber is resin aged at least 20 millions years.
- Since the Ice Age man has used amber for jewellery and amulets.
- Each year, the Danish North Sea Nature Park hosts a festival dedicated to collecting and refining amber.
The pier at Hvidbjerg Strand