Construction workers discover gold treasure worth 9 million euros walled into Belgian cellar
Construction workers renovating a welfare organisation building in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, East Flanders, discovered a chest of gold bars and coins worth an estimated 9 million euros walled into a cellar. Police seized the find and the East Flanders prosecution office has opened an investigation into its origin and legal ownership.
The discovery
Employees of the construction firm De Brand, based in Baasrode near Dendermonde, were carrying out renovation work on a building belonging to the welfare organisation CAW Oost-Vlaanderen in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, East Flanders. In the cellar they stumbled upon a chest that had been walled into the masonry. Inside was a large quantity of gold, with a first estimate placing its value at roughly 9 million euros.
The building was formerly a brewer's house, occupied from around 1900 by a brewer, and is now owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen. The workers immediately notified their client and then the police, who confirmed the find. Police chief Patrick Feys confirmed that a large quantity of gold had been recovered.
- Workers discover chest walled into cellar wall during renovation
- Police seize gold and transport it to a secure location in Brussels
- Story breaks in Belgian media; prosecution confirms investigation
What was in the chest
The gold consists of numbered gold bars and old gold coins, hidden in a chest in the cellar, according to Geert Hillaert of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, who went to see the find himself but said he had no time to examine it in detail. Belgian media reported that the treasure includes at least 4,000 coins and more than 40 gold bars.
- Gold bars
- 40 items
- Gold coins
- 4000 items
Hillaert described his reaction to the discovery.
Surprise and astonishment were my first reaction. This is a once in a lifetime experience.
Police seizure and investigation
The chest was discovered on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning, police seized the items and transported them to a secure storage location in Brussels, pending investigation. The East Flanders prosecution office has opened an inquiry to determine how the gold ended up in the wall and whether it was placed there illegally.
Prosecution spokeswoman Hanne Ollevier stated the current status of the investigation.
At the moment, neither the origin of the gold nor the lawful owner is known.
The prosecution wants to establish whether the gold can be linked to past crimes and whether any rightful owners can still be found. Geert Hillaert noted that the investigation could take years.
Legal questions and potential use
Under Belgian civil law, finding something of great value does not automatically make the finder the owner. Whether CAW or the construction firm is entitled to a finder's fee, and what tax consequences the discovery carries, remains unresolved.
If CAW Oost-Vlaanderen is ultimately named as the owner, the organisation has already indicated where the proceeds would go. Hillaert said the funds would create additional shelter capacity for homeless people across East Flanders, where a severe shortage exists.
We will create additional capacity for our target group across all of East Flanders. That would be a very welcome gift to address the enormous need we experience daily.
Hillaert also cautioned against assuming the gold would come to CAW, noting it could turn out to be the result of some illicit practice and hidden there for that reason.
