Is this fossil bone or modern bone?

[Nat006]

Any idea if this bone is modern or fossil and what animal it belongs to?

Found on the beach in the Netherlands.

I think it's modern but it does have a very hard texture. Sometimes I feel very annoying with my posts on here as I am a beginner but I just want to make sure. Thank you!

[Fin Lover]

We all have to start somewhere, so don't feel bad about asking questions.  My guess would be recent, but try using the flame test - hold a flame to the end of the bone and see if it starts to burn and smell strongly. 

[Nat006]

2 minutes ago, Fin Lover said:

We all have to start somewhere, so don't feel bad about asking questions.  My guess would be recent, but try using the flame test - hold a flame to the end of the bone and see if it starts to burn and smell strongly. 

Thank you, I will try that :). If it is recent, do you maybe have any idea what animal it come from? No worries if not. Someone told me a seal, does that sound right?

[Fin Lover]

Sorry, I don't know bones well, but someone else may be able to tell you.  

[Brandy Cole]

@Nat006 Are seals possible on that beach?  

 

It appears to be a toe bone.  This is probably a gross over generalization, but I think I've heard that prey animals tend to have straight toe bones and predators have curved toe bones like yours.  

 

If you found it on a beach, I would wonder if it's a seal middle or proximal phalanx.

Edited March 25, 2023 by Brandy Cole
Spelling correction

[Rockwood]

The texture looks like that of marine mammal bone to me. I tend to think it is a fossil as well. The North Sea is known for Pleistocene fossils.