Construction workers in Belgium recently stumbled upon a remarkable find—gold valued at around $10.4 million—while they were setting up a new sewer system beneath an old brewery, according to local authorities.
In Sint Gillis-Dendermonde, a Flemish community near Brussels, police reported that the workers swiftly alerted them to the discovery. The officers then cataloged the treasure and secured it in a “high-security federal storage facility.”
An 18-year-old laborer, Koby, initially mistook the gold bars for 1 euro coins. He recounted his surprise, saying, “We didn’t expect to find gold at all.” It was only after they were digging up part of the foundation for the sewer pipes that the unexpected discovery happened.
Mario, the project supervisor, shared his incredulity. He mentioned that the excitement was palpable when they shouted about the gold. “I picked up the gold and kept digging for more coins and bars. That’s when it really sank in what we had found,” he explained.
Following the discovery, he promptly called his supervisor before contacting the police. Interestingly, under Belgian law, the gold cannot be kept by the workers. The true owner can claim it within five years.
When asked if he considered keeping some of the gold, Mario remarked, “There are so many coins and bars that it would be almost impossible. Plus, that would be considered theft.”
Koby expressed that he would still like to receive a finder’s fee for his efforts, which he described as “nice.” The project property belongs to an organization focused on providing welfare assistance to Flemish communities. Its director mentioned hopes that the funds could help address significant needs faced daily.
Local authorities have cautioned treasure hunters against visiting the site, emphasizing that it is a fenced construction area with several dangerous holes and that all the gold has already been collected. They concluded with the hope that this unexpected treasure would make a positive impact on many lives.
