What began as a routine sewer line excavation in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, quickly transformed into an extraordinary discovery for an 18-year-old worker named Kobe and his crew. While replacing underground pipes at a historic property roughly 30 km northwest of Brussels, the team breached a bricked-in cellar wall, revealing a hidden fortune.
A Routine Job Turns into a Gold Rush
Behind the masonry, workers found a bag brimming with numbered bullion bars, gold nuggets, and rare coins. The estimated value of this remarkable find is €9 million, or approximately ₹98 crore. Kobe initially mistook the gleaming metal for mere pocket change, a common misconception that quickly faded as the true nature of their discovery became clear.
“At first I thought it was €1 coins. Then we saw a gold bar. It turned out to be a bit more than we thought,” Kobe recounted to Belgian broadcaster VTM. He added that such a find was entirely unexpected on a typical workday morning.
The Historic Brouwershuis and its Secrets
The treasure was deliberately concealed within the subterranean structure of a grand villa known as the Brouwershuis. Built in the late 19th century, this property was once the home of brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche. The site operated as a brewery from 1899 until 1970, with its wrought-iron gates still bearing the initials “VA” as a nod to the Van Assche family.
Currently, the Brouwershuis is undergoing extensive renovation by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social welfare organization. The plan is to transform the building into new offices and housing, a process that involves significant structural work. Geert Hillaert of CAW noted to Flemish outlet HLN that much of the original building is being altered, with only the walls expected to remain.
Investigation and Legal Complexities
Following the discovery, police and prosecutors swiftly secured the site and transferred the gold to a secure facility in Brussels. Investigators are now tasked with verifying that the treasure was not stolen or linked to any criminal activity. This crucial step precedes what is expected to be a complex civil dispute over ownership.
Hanne Ollevier of the East Flanders prosecutor's office confirmed the ongoing verification process. Under Belgian law, anyone who finds treasure must wait at least five years for rightful owners to come forward before any division of the find can be considered. Potential claimants could include the construction contractors, CAW Oost-Vlaanderen as the property owner, and descendants of the Van Assche family.
While Kobe acknowledged the necessity of handing over such a significant find to authorities, he expressed hope for a potential finder's reward. “If it had been a few coins, maybe not. But maybe we'll get some kind of finder's reward eventually,” he mused, reflecting on the once-in-a-lifetime discovery that has turned his ordinary summer job into an extraordinary tale.