Construction workers renovating a building in Belgium uncovered a hidden stash of gold worth an estimated €9 million, or about $10.4 million, after digging into a cellar during work on a new sewer system. Authorities are now investigating where the gold came from and who can legally claim the fortune.
The discovery was made in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, in Belgium’s East Flanders region, during renovation work at a former brewery property. Workers came across the treasure while excavating trenches and laying drainage pipes.
The haul included dozens of numbered gold bars along with gold coins and other pieces. CBS News reported that photos released by Dendermonde police showed roughly 50 bars as well as piles of coins. Police said the workers contacted authorities immediately after finding the gold.
Workers Initially Thought They Had Found Ordinary Coins
One of the workers, an 18-year-old student identified as Kobe, said the discovery started with what appeared to be ordinary coins. As the crew continued digging, however, they came across a gold bar and realized the scale of the find was far greater than they had first thought.
The gold appeared to have been deliberately concealed inside a bricked-in section of the cellar beneath a villa once connected to the brewery. The property dates back to the late 19th century and was originally built for brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche. Brewing operations at the site began in 1899 and ended in 1970.
The building is now owned by social welfare organization CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which is renovating it for offices and housing.
Who Owns the $10 Million Gold Stash?
Police inventoried the treasure and transferred it to a high-security government facility while authorities investigate its origin. The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office is also examining whether any of the gold could be stolen property or connected to criminal activity.
Ownership remains unresolved. Potential claims could involve the property owner, the construction workers or descendants of the family associated with the former brewery. Belgian rules also give possible owners time to come forward before the fate of an unclaimed treasure can be settled.
The unusual discovery has already drawn attention from would-be treasure hunters. Dendermonde police warned people not to enter the fenced construction site, stressing that the recovered gold has already been removed and secured.
For the workers who uncovered it, the question is now whether finding a fortune beneath an ordinary construction site will ultimately translate into any financial reward. For authorities, the more immediate task is determining who hid millions of dollars in gold inside the building — and who legally owns it today.
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