Belgian Workers Discover €9m Gold in Cellar Wall

The building is a protected villa from the late 19th century, built for Theophilus Van Assche, whose brewery operated on the site from 1899 to 1970. Today it belongs to CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social welfare organisation that is turning the property into offices and housing. Piet Buyse, a historian and former mayor of Dendermonde, told the news outlet HLN that the Van Assche fortune had “certainly stayed in the family”, and hiding part of it in gold would not surprise him. Prosecutors must first check that the gold was not stolen or linked to crime.

Under Belgian law, a rightful owner has five years to come forward. If nobody does, the treasure is divided between the finder and the property owner — so the builders, the charity and Van Assche's descendants could all claim a share. Geert Hillaert, the charity's director, hopes the money can help people in need. Police, who changed their Facebook picture to a gold coin, warned treasure hunters to stay away from the site. Kobe knows keeping the gold would be theft, but he hopes for a finder's reward.