A routine renovation project in Belgium has turned into a once-in-a-lifetime discovery after construction workers uncovered a hidden stash of gold estimated at €9 million, or more than $10 million.
The treasure was found Tuesday at a historic property in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, in East Flanders, as workers dug trenches for a new sewage system. The hoard included gold coins, nuggets and numbered bullion bars that had apparently been concealed inside a bricked-in section of the building’s cellar.
The discovery is now the subject of an official investigation, as authorities determine where the gold came from and who has legal rights to it.
18-Year-Old Worker Thought He Found €1 Coins
Among the workers who discovered the treasure was Kobe, an 18-year-old student working a summer construction job. Kobe told Belgian media that the workers initially had no idea they had found anything particularly valuable.
“At first I thought they were €1 coins,” he said.
That changed when the workers spotted a gold nugget. As they continued digging, they found gold bars and additional coins. The treasure appeared to have been deliberately concealed. It was reportedly placed in a bag and bricked into a cellar wall rather than stored in a conventional safe.
“It’s just not something you expect when you’re working on a regular Tuesday morning,” Kobe said.
Site manager Mario, who has worked in construction for 33 years, said he had never experienced anything comparable.
“Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement,” he told VRT.
The workers contacted police and notified the property owner rather than attempting to take the gold themselves.
“There are so many coins and bars — it would be almost impossible,” Mario said. “Besides, that would be theft.”
Gold Secured As Authorities Investigate
Police removed the treasure from the construction site and transferred it to a secure government facility in Brussels.
Officials are now working to establish the gold’s origin, value and legal ownership. Investigators must also determine whether it could have been stolen or connected to criminal activity.
Hanne Ollevier of the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office said it is not yet known where the gold came from or to whom it legally belongs. The investigation could ultimately lead to a complicated civil dispute involving multiple potential claimants.
Police have also warned members of the public not to visit the property looking for additional treasure. The construction site is fenced off and contains dangerous pits, and authorities stressed that the discovered gold has already been removed.
A Building With a Long Brewing History
The discovery took place inside a building with deep roots in Dendermonde’s brewing industry.
The property on Van Langenhovestraat was associated with a brewery established in 1899. The grand residence, known as the Brouwershuis, was originally built for brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche in the late 19th century.
The brewery continued operating for decades before eventually shutting down in 1970. The property’s wrought-iron gates still reportedly carry the initials “VA,” a reminder of its connection to the Van Assche family.
The historic property is now undergoing an extensive renovation. CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social welfare organization, owns the site and is converting it into offices and housing.
Geert Hillaert of CAW said the building is being substantially gutted as part of the project, with only portions of the original structure ultimately expected to remain.
Workers installing drainage pipes were therefore disturbing parts of a building that had stood for more than a century when they happened upon the concealed gold.
Could the Gold Be Connected to the Van Assche Family?
The building’s history has naturally prompted speculation about whether the gold could have belonged to the Van Assche family.
Piet Buyse, a former mayor of Dendermonde, told Belgian media that the Van Assche family’s wealth remained within the family. He said he would not be surprised if members of the family had converted some of their wealth into gold and hidden it somewhere secure.
That theory has not been established by investigators.
Authorities have not announced evidence linking the newly discovered treasure to Theophilus Van Assche or his descendants. The gold could have been hidden by someone associated with the property at another point in its history, and investigators must first establish its provenance.
Descendants of the Van Assche family could potentially become part of the ownership question if evidence ultimately connects the treasure to the former owners.
Who Will Get the Gold?
The workers who discovered the treasure and CAW Oost-Vlaanderen could eventually have competing claims, depending on what investigators determine.
Under Belgian law, a rightful owner has a period of five years to come forward and claim a hidden treasure. If no legitimate owner is identified, civil law can allow the treasure to be divided between the finder and the owner of the property where it was discovered, provided the gold is not connected to criminal activity.
For now, however, the treasure remains in government custody while the investigation continues.
CAW Oost-Vlaanderen’s director said he hopes that if the organization ultimately receives any portion of the fortune, the money could help address the substantial demand for its social services.
The construction workers, meanwhile, appear to be taking a more cautious approach.
Kobe said he and his colleagues understood that a discovery of this size had to be reported to authorities. He added that they might eventually receive some type of finder’s reward.
Provided by Dallas Express
