Meteorite law in Denmark
Meteorites found in Denmark are danekræ, natural treasures that belong to the state. Finders must hand them in and receive a payment.
Belongs to the state
Who owns a find? Denmark treats natural-history finds of unique scientific value, including fossils and meteorites, as danekræ, which means roughly 'Danish natural treasure'. They belong to the state, and finders must hand them in to the Natural History Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen or a local museum.
The finder's payment: the state pays the finder a reward assessed on the find's value. When the Ejby meteorite fell in a suburb of Copenhagen in 2016, its finders shared about 2 million Danish kroner.
What to do: if you see a fireball over Denmark or find a possible meteorite, contact the museum. Keeping or selling a Danish meteorite privately is not allowed.
This is general information to help you ask the right questions, not legal advice. Laws change and their details matter, and this summary was last reviewed in 2026. Before you search, buy, sell or export a meteorite, check the current law with the authorities of the country concerned or a qualified lawyer. See meteorite law by country.
Related pages
Glossary: Meteorite ownership, Export rules, Landowner permission, Provenance