Builders Find US$10.5M Gold Stash Sealed Inside Belgian Property

In Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde, Belgium, workers constructing sewer pipes at a former brewery came across a hidden treasure believed to be worth approximately US$10.5 million. The cache comprised 49 gold bars, each weighing around 1 kilogram, and over 4,000 gold coins. The 18-year-old student worker, Kobe Philips, mistakenly initially thought some items were €1 coins before identifying a gold bar, prompting them to report the find to authorities.

Upon discovery, the gold was handed over to Belgian police, who subsequently transferred it to a secured government vault. The local charity, CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which owns the property, and the builders are potential claimants to the loot. Belgian law stipulates that if the original owner cannot be identified after five years, the finder may claim ownership of the property, sharing the value with the property owner.

The property, dating back to the late 19th century, was once owned by Theophil Van Assche, a prominent local brewer who operated the brewery from 1899 until 1970. The East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office is currently investigating the origin of the gold, aiming to determine who originally owned it, when it was concealed, and if it was connected to any criminal activity.

This investigation will also decide whether the gold can be linked to a specific owner or falls under Belgium's provisions for undiscovered property lacking a known owner.