In Belgium, construction workers found 9 million euros worth of gold in a wall
In East Flanders, construction workers accidentally stumbled upon a cache of gold bars and coins while renovating a house. Their approximate value is estimated at 9 million euros. The police are now investigating who owns the treasure and who will ultimately be entitled to it.
This unusual story took place in East Flanders while a construction crew was working near the foundation of a house. The workers were tasked with a routine job—laying new sewer pipes. To do this, they needed to drill holes. It was during this work that they stumbled upon something they certainly did not expect to find on a construction site.
A large amount of gold was hidden within the basement walls. It consists of gold bars and coins, which are reportedly worth around 9 million euros. The discovery was made by construction workers, one of whom was an 18-year-old young man. He was working part-time at the construction site during his summer break.
Once the workers realized what they had found, they did not take the gold. The construction workers themselves reported the discovery to the police. According to law enforcement officials, they could not keep the treasure for themselves, as its origin and rightful owner have yet to be determined.
The police seized the gold and turned the house upside down
After the construction workers reported the discovery, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. The police began searching the house and the surrounding area to determine where the gold came from and whether there were any other hiding places. Law enforcement officials stated that they had essentially “turned the house upside down.” All the gold found was then transported to a secure location.
The police also asked people not to visit the house on their own or try to search for other treasures there. Clearly, the news of millions of euros hidden in the wall quickly attracted attention. However, law enforcement officials emphasized that independent searches at the scene could create additional problems. Currently, the main task of the investigation is to determine who owned the gold, when it was hidden, and why it ended up in this particular house.
Who Can Claim the Gold
This story has become even more intriguing due to the question of who will ultimately receive the found treasure. On the one hand, the people who found it may lay claim to it. On the other hand, the plot of land where the house is located belongs to a local charitable organization. Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years to claim their rights to the found property. However, it is not yet known who exactly might turn out to be the owner of the gold.
The local prosecutor, who has launched an investigation, also cannot yet say where the treasure came from or under what circumstances it was hidden. If the owner is not found within the established time limit, the rules of civil law regarding hidden treasure may apply.
In that case, the gold could be divided between the person who found it and the owner of the land where it was hidden. In other words, theoretically, a portion of the multimillion-dollar treasure could go to the construction workers. But it is too early to consider this a settled matter.
There is an important condition
The rule regarding the division of the treasure between the finder and the landowner will apply only if the investigation does not establish a link between the gold and a crime. This is one of the key points in this story. Law enforcement must determine not only who owns the gold but also why it was hidden.
It is possible that the treasure was hidden many years ago. However, so far there is no confirmation of either its age or its history. It also remains unclear whether the discovery is linked to any criminal case. That is why the police are continuing their investigation and are not rushing to comment on the future owner of the gold.
Police Hope for a Happy Ending
Law enforcement officials stated that they hope for a positive outcome to this story. In particular, they expressed the hope that the gold will end up “in the right place” and be able to change someone’s life.
For now, however, the millions of euros remain under law enforcement custody. The construction workers who accidentally stumbled upon the stash cannot simply take it for themselves. Their discovery is now the subject of an official investigation. If the rightful owner is not found and the gold is not of criminal origin, then a whole new story may unfold—one about who exactly will end up with one of the most unusual “construction” treasures of recent times. The BBC reports on this.
Belgium will send its military personnel to Greenland in September to participate in a NATO training mission, according to Defense Minister Theo Franken. The Belgian contingent will join Alliance activities in the region, where NATO is stepping up its focus on security and strategic presence.
