Construction workers in Belgium discovered €9 million in gold while excavating trenches for a sewage system at a former brewery site in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde on Tuesday, unearthing one of the region’s most significant treasure finds in recent memory.
An 18-year-old student named Kobe, working a summer job on the renovation project, was among the first to spot the hoard sealed in a bricked-in cellar wall beneath the grand villa that once belonged to brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche. “At first I thought it was €1 coins,” Kobe told Belgian broadcaster VRT. “But then we also saw a gold nugget lying there. That’s when we realised it was something bigger.”
The treasure comprises at least 40 gold bars and approximately 4,000 old coins stashed in a chest, according to police. The workers immediately alerted authorities rather than attempting to keep the discovery. “€9m – you simply can’t keep that hidden,” Kobe said.
The property is being completely renovated by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social welfare organisation providing support to homeless and vulnerable populations in East Flanders. The Brouwershuis, or brewery house, began brewing in 1899 and ceased operations in 1970. Geert Hillaert, director of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, expressed hope that the organisation might eventually benefit from the find, saying it could help meet the “enormous need we experience daily” in supporting vulnerable communities.
The East Flanders public prosecutor has launched an investigation to determine the gold’s origin and establish legal ownership. Authorities must first verify that the bullion was not stolen property or proceeds of criminal activity. Hanne Ollevier of the prosecutor’s office told local media that the discovery was likely to spark a complex civil dispute, with the building contractors, the welfare organisation, and any descendants of the Van Assche family potentially having claims to part of the fortune.
A former mayor of Dendermonde, Piet Buyse, suggested the Van Assche family’s wealth had likely remained within the family. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they had decided to put at least some of it in gold, and then to hide it in a safe place,” he told Belgian broadcaster HLN.
Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years—approximately 1,823 days—to come forward and claim the hoard. If no legitimate owner emerges and the gold is not found to be linked to criminal activity, Belgian civil law mandates that the treasure be divided between the finder and the property’s owner. This framework means the construction workers or CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, or both, could ultimately benefit from the discovery.
The Belgium find echoes a recent comparable discovery in Austria. In July 2026, a Vienna plumber renovating a villa basement followed a rope protruding from the concrete floor and uncovered a treasure chest containing 66 pounds of gold coins dated to before World War II, worth an estimated $2.4 million. Under Austrian law, the finder was entitled to share in the haul alongside the property owner, demonstrating a similar legal framework across Central Europe for treasure discoveries during renovation work.
Police have warned the public to stay away from the active construction site, which has already attracted curiosity seekers following the discovery. “After the treasure was found, the whole site was turned upside down,” said Patrick Feys of the Dendermonde police zone. “We’re certain there’s nothing left to find.” The gold has been transferred to a secure facility in Brussels pending the ongoing investigation.
Sources
- The Guardian — Discovery details, Kobe’s account, brewery history, Van Assche family background, legal ownership framework, and prosecutor commentary
- ECIKS.org — Hoard composition (40+ bars, 4,000 coins), CAW Oost-Vlaanderen details, five-year claim period, legal distribution framework, and Geert Hillaert quotes
- BBC News — Discovery confirmation, Kobe’s account, site manager Mario’s quote, CAW director Geert Hillaert’s comments, legal ownership timeline, and police response
- Popular Mechanics — Vienna plumber discovery details, Austrian treasure law framework, and comparable precedent information
