Workers find gold worth €9 million in Belgium cellar
A construction crew discovered 49 gold bars and thousands of coins hidden behind a bricked wall during a drainage project.
Construction workers uncovered a treasure worth an estimated €9 million while laying sewage pipes at a former brewery in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, on August 11, 2026, according to the Times of India.
The find, located at the Brouwershuis villa, included 49 numbered bullion bars and thousands of gold coins. The precious metals were found inside a bag sealed behind a bricked-up cellar wall during foundation removal.
The property was originally constructed in the late 19th century for Theophilus Van Assche, a member of a local brewing family. Brewing at the site operated from 1899 until 1970 before the property changed hands.
The current owner, social welfare organisation CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, is renovating the listed building for offices and housing. An 18-year-old student named Kobe, working for construction company De Brand, was among the workers who found the gold.
Authorities have moved the collection to a secure government facility in Brussels. The East Flanders public prosecutor's office stated that investigators are looking into whether the gold was stolen or linked to criminal activity.
Under Belgian law, potential owners have five years to claim the treasure. If no owner is identified by 2031, the gold may be divided between the property owner and the finders.