Builders unearth €9m gold loot sealed in walls of Belgian property

Construction workers excavating a home in Belgium have stumbled upon a substantial cache of gold, estimated to be worth approximately €9 million (£7.6 million), concealed within the walls of the property's cellar. The discovery occurred during the renovation process when workers were installing new sewage pipes in the eastern Flanders town of Dendermonde.

The hidden trove of gold bars and coins has generated curiosity as to the identity of the rightful owner, with two potential claimants: the construction workers and the local charity that owns the property. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, and police have reported that the site has been thoroughly searched and the gold has been relocated to a secure location.

One of the workers, an 18-year-old student named Kobe, expressed shock upon realizing the significance of their find. "Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement," Kobe told Belgian broadcaster VRT. "At first, we thought they were €1 coins, but then we saw a gold nugget, which made us realize this was something much bigger."

Mario, the site manager, echoed the disbelief, stating, "There are so many coins and bars – it would be almost impossible to keep such a large amount hidden."

The property is currently owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a welfare support organization based in Dendermonde, a Flemish community of roughly 47,000 residents. The charity's director, Geert Hillaert, initially expressed surprise and amazement at the discovery, suggesting that the gold might eventually be utilized to support the organization's mission and address the "enormous need" they face daily.

Local police have cautioned the public not to venture to the active construction site in search of additional treasure. The force has updated its Facebook profile picture to feature a gold coin, indicating their hope that the discovery will ultimately benefit someone in need.

Under Belgian law, the owner of the hidden treasure has five years to claim the loot. However, the investigation is still determining who this individual may be. If no claimant emerges, civil law stipulates that the hidden treasure found on someone else's property should be divided between the individual who discovered it and the property owner. This provision, however, only applies if the treasure is not deemed to be associated with criminal activity.

For both the construction workers and the charity, a wait of up to 1,823 days now awaits a potential claimant. If no one comes forward to assert ownership, the gold will remain undiscovered, and silence will indeed be golden.