- Workers renovating a former brewery property in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde discovered a wooden chest behind a wall containing gold coins and a nugget.
- Workers immediately contacted authorities rather than attempting to remove or divide the treasure.
- Police searched the property, moved the haul to a secure location, and issued a public appeal to avoid the site.
- The local prosecutor has opened an investigation into the origins of the gold; the rightful owner remains unknown.
- Police transferred the gold to a high-security vault operated by Belgium's federal government.
- Kobe, an 18-year-old student worker, expressed hope for a finder's reward.
- The discovery was made during renovation work at the former brewery property, which has a history dating to the late 19th century.
- The discovery has generated intense interest from would-be treasure hunters, but police warned them to stay away due to safety concerns.
Construction workers in Dendermonde, Belgium, stumbled upon a hidden treasure worth €9 million while renovating a former brewery. The discovery occurred during sewer installation when an 18-year-old worker named Kobe found gold coins and bars inside a wooden chest behind a wall.7
"Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement," Kobe told Belgian public broadcaster VRT. Authorities have secured the treasure and initiated an investigation to determine its origins and rightful ownership. Under Belgian law, both the construction team and the property’s owner, a local charity, may claim the treasure.
The police have urged the public to avoid the construction site, warning that it remains an active area with potential hazards. They also emphasized that the gold must not be linked to any criminal activity for the finder's reward to apply. Authorities have a five-year window for any legitimate owner to claim the treasure, after which it will be divided between the finder and the landowner if no ownership is established.
Kobe expressed hope for a finder's reward, stating, "Of course, we're hoping we'll get a finder's reward. That would be nice." The discovery has sparked interest from treasure hunters, but police have assured the public that the area has been thoroughly searched and no further valuables remain.910
“The site manager initially thought the coins were €1 coins before spotting a gold nugget, per VRT. Kobe, an 18-year-old student worker, said they briefly considered keeping the treasure but it was 'simply too much money,' and he hopes for a finder's reward.”
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