Gold Coins and Bars Worth €9 Million Found in Dendermonde, Belgium

Work to fit new sewer pipes led to a multi-million-euro discovery in Dendermonde, Belgium. While drilling through the basement area of a property, workers uncovered gold coins and bars valued at about €9 million, close to US$10 million, concealed within the building’s structure.

How was the gold discovered inside the property?

The find was made during what had been expected to be routine refurbishment work at a property in East Flanders. As workers drilled near the foundations, they came across the hidden cache. The building is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social care organisation operating in Dendermonde, a Flemish city with around 47,000 residents.

Kobe, an 18-year-old student doing summer work, was among the team members. Speaking to Belgian public broadcaster VRT, he said their initial response was disbelief, and that he first thought they had found ordinary €1 coins. That impression changed after the workers also spotted a gold nugget.

What did the workers do after finding the gold?

Having found numerous coins and bars, the team chose to report the matter to the authorities straight away. Mario, the site manager, told VRT that concealing such a large quantity would have been virtually impossible, adding that keeping the items would amount to theft. Police took charge of the material shortly after being called.

The gold was removed from the property and placed in secure storage while the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates where it came from. According to an account carried by the BBC, the property has already been searched thoroughly and every item found has been taken away, making it less likely that further objects will emerge during unauthorised visits to the site.

Why have Dendermonde police told curious visitors to stay away?

The scale of the discovery quickly attracted public attention, prompting Dendermonde police to warn potential treasure hunters not to visit the location. With work still under way and the gold already removed, the warning is intended to prevent trespassing, accidents and disruption to an investigation that must still establish the provenance of the items.

• The treasure has been valued at approximately €9 million.
• Coins, bars and at least one gold nugget were among the items discovered.
• Authorities transferred all recovered material to a secure location.
• The source of the gold and the identity of its owner remain under investigation.

In a social media post, local police said they hoped the treasure would end up in the right hands and could change lives. The episode took on a symbolic note when the force temporarily changed its profile picture to an image of a gold coin, while stressing that the fortune’s final destination has yet to be determined.

Who could be entitled to the €9 million?

The central issue is that, so far, no one has been identified as the gold’s rightful owner. Under information released about Belgian law, anyone able to prove ownership would have five years to claim the treasure. During that period, both the workers and the property owner may remain without a final answer.

If no claimant comes forward and the investigation establishes that the gold is not connected to criminal activity, Belgian civil law may allow the treasure to be shared between those who found it and the property owner. In practical terms, that could benefit both the workers involved in the discovery and CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, although neither outcome is guaranteed.

Could the fortune end up helping vulnerable people?

Geert Hillaert, director of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, described his first reaction as surprise and astonishment. He said that if the organisation ultimately receives part of the money, the funds could reinforce its social care work and help meet the substantial demand the institution faces each day.

Until the investigation clarifies the origin of the gold and the legal time limit has passed, millions of euros will remain without a settled destination. The case illustrates how an ordinary refurbishment project can expose a story hidden for decades. For now, the answer to who will receive the fortune depends on evidence, the law and time, leaving everyone involved waiting.