He Was Digging a Sewer. He Found €9M Gold.
Student Discovers €9 Million Gold Treasure While Digging Sewer Trenches
The Incredible Discovery
Imagine this: you’re 18 years old, working a summer job digging trenches for a sewage system, and suddenly your shovel hits something that isn’t dirt. That’s exactly what happened to a Belgian student named Kobe on a regular Tuesday morning in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a town about 19 miles northwest of Brussels.
Important Point
This wasn’t just a few coins – the treasure trove is estimated to be worth €9 million (about £8 million)!
Where It Happened
The discovery took place at a very special location with lots of history:
- Former brewery site on Van Langenhovestraat
- Grand villa built in the late 19th century for brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche
- Brewing operations ran from 1899 to 1970
- The building still has original wrought-iron gates with the initials "VA"
- Currently being renovated by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen (a social welfare organization) into offices and housing
What They Found
When Kobe and his colleagues dug deeper, they couldn’t believe their eyes:
- Gold coins
- Gold nuggets (natural lumps of gold)
- Numbered bullion bars (official gold bars with serial numbers)
- All stashed inside a bag hidden in a bricked-in cellar wall
Important Point
The gold was deliberately hidden – someone went to great trouble to brick it into the wall, not just leave it in a safe or box.
How It Went Down: Step by Step
- Regular work morning – Kobe and colleagues laying drainage pipes
- First glimpse – "We suddenly saw something lying there"
- Initial thought – Kobe thought they were just €1 coins
- Big surprise – Then they saw a gold bar and realized it was much more
- Right thing to do – Immediately called the police and notified CAW
- Secure transfer – Treasure moved to a secure facility in Brussels
- Investigation begins – Authorities now determining legal ownership
The Legal Maze: Who Gets the Gold?
This is where things get complicated. Multiple parties could have a claim:
| Potential Claimant | Why They Might Have a Claim |
|---|---|
| Building contractors | Workers who physically found it |
| CAW Oost-Vlaanderen | Current property owners renovating the building |
| Van Assche family descendants | Original wealthy brewery owners who built the villa |
| Belgian state | If no rightful owner comes forward |
Belgian Treasure Law Basics
- 5-year waiting period – Finders must wait at least 5 years for owners to claim treasure
- Stolen property check – Authorities must verify the gold wasn’t stolen or from criminal activity
- Complex civil dispute likely – Multiple claims mean lawyers will probably be involved
- Finder’s reward possible – Kobe hopes for some compensation, saying "If it had been a few coins, maybe not [we’d hand it over]. But maybe we’ll get some kind of finder’s reward eventually."
What People Are Saying
Kobe (the finder): "It’s just not something you expect when you’re working on a regular Tuesday morning… It was really bricked in there – not in a safe or anything."
Geert Hillaert (CAW representative): "The Brouwershuis was a beautiful building, but it is being completely gutted. Ultimately, only the walls will remain."
Piet Buyse (former mayor): The Van Assche family fortune "certainly stayed in the family. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they had decided to put at least some of it in gold, and then to hide it in a safe place."
Hanne Ollevier (prosecutor’s office): Authorities must "verify that the bullion was not stolen property or the proceeds of criminal activity" and expects a "complex civil dispute."
Summary
An 18-year-old summer job student named Kobe made the discovery of a lifetime while digging sewer trenches at a historic Belgian brewery site. Hidden in a bricked-up cellar wall beneath the original owner’s villa, he and his colleagues found €9 million worth of gold coins, nuggets, and numbered bullion bars. They immediately reported it to police and the property owners. Now begins a lengthy legal process under Belgian law, which requires a 5-year waiting period for rightful owners to come forward. Potential claimants include the construction workers, the welfare organization renovating the building, and descendants of the wealthy Van Assche brewing family. Kobe hopes for a finder’s reward, but the final outcome remains uncertain.
FAQ
How much is €9 million in other currencies?
€9 million is approximately £8 million (British pounds) or $9.7 million (US dollars), though exchange rates fluctuate daily.
What are "numbered bullion bars"?
These are official gold bars produced by certified refineries. Each bar has a unique serial number stamped on it, along with its weight, purity (usually 99.99% pure gold), and the refinery’s logo. This makes them traceable and verifiable.
Why does Belgian law make finders wait 5 years?
This law protects rightful owners who might not know their property was hidden or lost. It gives time for heirs, previous owners, or victims of theft to come forward and prove ownership before the finder can claim it.
Could the gold be from World War II?
It’s possible but unconfirmed. Many European families hid valuables during wartime. The Van Assche family was wealthy, and the gold was deliberately bricked into a wall – suggesting intentional hiding. The investigation will examine the coins and bars for dates and origins.
What happens if no one claims the gold after 5 years?
If no legitimate owner proves their claim after the waiting period, the finder (Kobe and his colleagues) may receive the treasure or a significant portion of it, though the property owner (CAW) and the state may also have legal claims depending on specific Belgian property laws.