An 18-year-old student working a summer construction job in Belgium unearthed a massive stash of gold bars, nuggets, and coins estimated to be worth around €9 million (approximately ₹98 crore or $10.4 million USD).
The Discovery
- Location: Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde (a town roughly 30 km northwest of Brussels, Belgium).
- The Worker: Kobe, an 18-year-old student doing holiday work on a construction site.
- The Incident: While digging trenches to lay foundation and sewage pipes, Kobe spotted metallic objects in the dirt. At first glance, he thought they were discarded €1 coins.
- The Realization: As the workers kept excavating, they uncovered heavy, numbered gold bullion bars alongside coins and nuggets stashed inside a bag bricked into a cellar wall.
Historical Background
- The Site: The property being renovated was formerly a local brewery operating from 1899 to 1970.
- Original Owner: The site once belonged to prominent local brewer Theophilus Van Assche. The historic villa’s iron gates still carry the initials “VA”.
- Current Project: The property is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen (a social welfare organization) and is being converted into modern office spaces and residential apartments.
Legal Status & Next Steps
- Police Action: The construction crew immediately reported the find to local authorities. Police secured the scene, cataloged the discovery, and transferred the entire hoard to a high-security facility in Brussels.
- Ownership Claim (5-Year Rule): Under Belgian law, when a hidden treasure is discovered, there is a mandatory five-year waiting period to allow potential rightful heirs or legal owners to come forward.
- Who Might Claim It: Potential claimants include descendants of the Van Assche family, the social welfare organization owning the land, and the construction workers themselves. Authorities are also conducting a formal investigation to verify the gold was not tied to historical thefts or criminal activity.
