BRUSSELS, Belgium, Aug. 16 (World Daily Times) — Construction workers installing a sewer in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, uncovered gold bars and coins estimated to be worth about 9 million euros, or more than $10 million, according to Belgian broadcaster VRT.
The discovery was made during groundworks at a former brewery property. Reports differ on whether the gold was found behind a wall, in a chest or in a bricked-in cellar area. Authorities have not released a full inventory or a detailed account of exactly where the material was hidden.
How the discovery unfolded
The haul included gold bars and coins. Reports tied to VRT and Dendermonde police described 49 bars, a bucket of coins and at least one gold nugget, although the total amount has not been independently detailed in an official inventory.
Kobe, an 18-year-old worker, told VRT that he first thought some of the pieces were ordinary 1-euro coins. “Our first reaction was actually disbelief, surprise. Of course, we didn’t expect to find gold,” he said.
The crew contacted police after realizing the value of what they had found. Project leader Mario told VRT that workers shouted, “We found gold!” Police catalogued the material and moved it to a high-security vault operated by Belgium’s federal government, according to statements attributed to local police.
Dendermonde police also warned people to stay away from the site because of dangerous pits connected to the construction work.
Who owns the gold?
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the gold’s origin and legal ownership. Prosecutor Hanne Ollevier told De Standaard that authorities do not yet know where the gold came from or who legally owns it.
The investigation will also consider whether the bullion was stolen or linked to criminal activity, Ollevier said.
Piet Buyse, a historian and former mayor of Dendermonde, speculated that the stash could have belonged to the Van Assche brewing family, which was associated with the former brewery property. That theory has not been confirmed by investigators.
Reports citing Belgian law say a rightful owner may have up to five years to claim the gold. The supplied reports do not establish how that rule will apply in this case or whether anyone has come forward.
What remains unknown
Authorities have not publicly established when the gold was buried, why it was hidden or whether it was connected to a crime. No charges have been reported in connection with the find.
The valuation also remains an estimate. The available reports do not provide the gold’s weight, purity, appraisal method or a complete chain-of-custody record.
The discovery is a law-enforcement and construction-site matter rather than an environmental event. No environmental agency has reported an impact from the find, and the available information does not show any effect on the sewer project or public health.
