An 18-year-old construction worker named Kobe made an astonishing discovery while working on a renovation project in
As the team excavated the cellar, Kobe noticed what he initially thought were ordinary €1 coins among the rubble. However, his attention was drawn to a gold nugget, signaling that they had stumbled upon something far more valuable. According to reports from VRT NWS, Belgium's public broadcaster, local police confirmed that the hoard included numbered gold ingots and historic gold pounds, all intentionally concealed within a bricked-up section of the cellar wall for an unknown duration.
A Treasure Unearthed
Site manager Mario recounted the moment his crew realized the significance of their find. As shouts of excitement filled the air, he rushed to the scene to witness the emergence of more coins and gold bars from the wall. The hoard is estimated to contain around 40 gold bars and approximately 4,000 coins, with a total value nearing €9 million, marking it as one of Belgium's most extraordinary treasure discoveries in recent history.
Upon recognizing the scale of their discovery, the crew promptly informed their employer, who advised them to alert both the client and local authorities. Officers from the Dendermonde police quickly arrived to document the find before securing the gold in a government facility. Investigations are currently underway to determine the hoard's origins and any potential legal claims to it. Police have also cautioned the public to avoid the site, which remains an active construction zone, to prevent accidents.
The Future of the Hoard
The question of ownership remains unresolved. Belgian law differentiates between lost items, which can be reclaimed by their original owners within five years, and treasures, which are defined as hidden objects without established ownership. Under Article 716 of the Belgian Civil Code, if a treasure is found on someone else's property, it is split equally between the finder and the property owner. This means that the eventual distribution of the gold will depend on how authorities classify the hoard and whether any original owners can be identified.
CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, the organization that owns the building, has stated that any proceeds from the treasure would be used to enhance shelter capacity for the homeless in the region. For Kobe, who first spotted the gold nugget, there is hope for a finder's reward or a share of the treasure, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the origins of the gold and the circumstances surrounding its concealment.
