Full Breakdown
Gold Hoard Unearthed During Sewer Renovation in Dendermonde, Belgium
8/17/2026, 2:24:53 AM
The Discovery
On August 11, construction workers in Dendermonde, a Flemish town east of Brussels, uncovered a large quantity of gold while excavating a cellar wall to lay new sewer pipes. Photographs released by local police show 49 one-kilogram gold bars and thousands of gold coins bricked into the wall. The haul has been valued at roughly €9 million (about $10 million). The gold was immediately secured, inventoried, and transferred to a high-security federal vault.
Background of the Site
The property is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social-welfare organization that provides assistance to vulnerable residents of Dendermonde. The building is a listed former brewery, originally constructed for brewer Theophilus Van Assche in the late-19th century and used as a brewery until 1970. Renovation work is being carried out by the construction firm De Brand to convert the site into offices and housing for the charity.
Details of the Find
- Quantity: 49 gold bars (?1 kg each) and an estimated 4,000 gold coins.
- Estimated value: €9 million (? $10 million).
- Location: Bricked-in cellar wall of the former brewery’s cellar.
- Discovery process: Workers drilling for a sewer line noticed metallic objects, initially assuming they were €1 coins before recognizing a gold nugget and subsequent bars.
Legal Framework and Investigation
Belgian law requires that the rightful owner of hidden treasure has five years (1,823 days) to claim it. If no legitimate claim is made, civil law permits the finders and the property owner to share the treasure, provided it is not linked to criminal activity. The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Prosecutor Hanne Ollevier, is investigating the origin of the gold and whether it is connected to any crime. The investigation also assesses potential claims by the construction crew, CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, and any descendants of the Van Assche family.
Official Statements & Responses
- Director Geert Hillaert (CAW Oost-Vlaanderen): Expressed “surprise and amazement” and said the organization hopes the gold could support its charitable work if it becomes theirs.
- Site manager Mario: Said keeping the gold would be “theft” and that the volume made personal retention “almost impossible.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Value estimates: Sources report the hoard’s worth as €9 million, €9 million (£7.6 million), and “more than $10 million,” reflecting slight variations in currency conversion.
- Origin of the gold: No source has identified the provenance of the coins or bars; possibilities range from a historic family hoard to recent illicit activity, but investigators have not confirmed any theory.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We certainly hadn’t expected to find gold.” — Kobe
- “Our first reaction was actually disbelief,” — Kobe
- “That’s when we knew we had found something much bigger,” — Kobe
- “Of course, we're hoping we'll get a finder's reward,” — Kobe
What’s Next
The five-year claim period runs for 1,823 days from the discovery date. During this time, authorities will continue the provenance investigation, and any potential claimants must present evidence of ownership. If no claim is filed, the gold may be divided between the finders and CAW Oost-Vlaanderen under Belgian civil law.
