A routine renovation project in Belgium has turned into an extraordinary treasure hunt after construction workers uncovered gold bars and coins reportedly worth around €9 million (about S$13.5 million) hidden inside the walls of a basement.
The discovery was made in Dendermonde, in East Flanders, while workers were renovating a property belonging to a local charitable organisation. Police were called after workers came across a substantial quantity of precious metal concealed within the building.
Authorities later released photographs showing dozens of gold bars alongside large quantities of gold coins. The discovery has attracted considerable attention because of its enormous estimated value and the mystery surrounding who originally hid the fortune there.
Workers Were Stunned By The Discovery
One of the workers involved in the renovation, an 18-year-old student named Kobe, told Belgian broadcaster VRT that the team initially thought they had simply found ordinary coins.
The situation changed dramatically when they realised that the objects included gold bars. According to Kobe, the workers were initially unable to believe what they had found before understanding that they had stumbled upon something potentially worth millions.
The site manager, Mario, said keeping such a huge quantity of gold would have been virtually impossible. With an estimated value of €9 million, the discovery was far too substantial for someone to quietly take away without attracting attention.
Rather than attempting to keep the treasure, the workers contacted the authorities. Police subsequently removed the gold and transferred it to a high-security government facility while investigations continue.
Police Warn Treasure Hunters To Stay Away
Police have reportedly searched the property thoroughly and confirmed that the gold has been removed from the construction site. They also issued a warning to would-be treasure hunters, urging people not to visit the site looking for additional valuables.
The unusual discovery even prompted local police to temporarily change their social media profile image to a gold coin. Authorities said they hoped the treasure would eventually reach its rightful destination and potentially make a significant difference to people’s lives.
The property belongs to East Flanders CAW, a charitable organisation providing welfare and social support to the local community. Its director, Hilart, said he was shocked and surprised when informed about the discovery.
The organisation reportedly serves the Dendermonde community, which has a population of around 47,000 people. Its leadership has expressed hope that, if the legal circumstances eventually allow it, the money could be used to support the charity’s work amid growing demand for social services.
Who Actually Owns The €9 Million Treasure?
Despite the excitement surrounding the discovery, the workers and property owner cannot simply divide up the gold immediately. Belgian law sets out specific rules governing hidden treasures and their ownership.
According to the report, a legitimate owner has five years, equivalent to 1,825 days, to come forward and establish a claim to the treasure. Until then, authorities will continue investigating its origins and determining whether it could be connected to previous criminal activity.
If nobody successfully claims the gold within the relevant period, Belgian civil law may allow a hidden treasure discovered on another person’s property to be divided between the person who found it and the owner of the property. However, that principle does not necessarily apply if the valuables are found to be connected to criminal activity.
For now, the renovation workers and the charitable organisation face a lengthy wait while investigators attempt to establish where the fortune came from. The discovery has also raised an intriguing question: why would someone hide millions of euros in gold inside a building in the first place?
Until investigators uncover the answer, the €9 million treasure remains locked away in a secure government facility. For the workers who first uncovered it, what began as an ordinary renovation job has become one of the most extraordinary construction discoveries in recent memory.