A Stunning Find Beneath a Belgian Home
What began as a simple plumbing renovation in the East Flanders town of Dendermonde (population ~47,000) became one of the most remarkable discoveries of the year. Workers drilling into a basement foundation stumbled upon a chest packed with gold ingots and hundreds of gold coins, with an estimated value of €9 million (about $10.4 million).
The discovery occurred in early August 2026, and was reported on August 14, 2026. The property belongs to CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social welfare charity that runs support services across the region.
Workers' Reaction: "That Would Be Theft"
Among the workers was Kobe, an 18-year-old summer student. He told Belgian public broadcaster VRT: "Our first reaction was disbelief and amazement. At first I thought they were 1-euro coins, but then we saw a gold nugget and realized it was something much bigger."
Site supervisor Mario was blunt about why they didn't try to keep it: "There are so many coins and bars that hiding it would be nearly impossible. Besides, that would be theft." Kobe added: "€9 million — you simply can't hide that."
The workers immediately alerted local police, who secured the treasure and transported it to a high-security vault under the Belgian federal government.
Historical Clue: The Van Assche Family
The mystery of the original owner began to unravel thanks to Piet Buyse, a historian and former mayor of Dendermonde. He told VRT that the treasure likely belonged to the Van Assche family, one of the wealthiest in the area, with business interests in brewing, hospitality, and real estate.
According to Buyse, Theofiel Van Assche had three children who never married and left no descendants. After their deaths, the house was donated to priests and later passed to Dendermonde Abbey in 1982. "Probably nobody knew there was gold in it too," the historian remarked.
The treasure is believed to have been hidden after World War II, when the family converted part of its fortune into gold as a safe-haven asset — a common practice following the 1929 stock market crash.
Who Gets the Gold? Belgian Law Has the Answer
The fate of the hoard will depend on a legal process that could take up to five years. Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has that period to claim it. The East Flanders prosecutor's office has already opened an investigation to determine its exact provenance.
If no one steps forward, civil law states that treasure found on someone else's property is split equally between the finder and the property owner. However, this only applies if it's proven the treasure isn't linked to criminal activity.
The charity CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which owns the building, has already stated its intention to use any awarded funds to support shelters and services for homeless people.
Curiosity Seekers and Police Warnings
The news attracted dozens of curious onlookers to the site, some hoping to find more gold. Local police had to quash that idea: "The property has been thoroughly searched and the treasure has been moved to a secure location. There is nothing left to find," a spokesperson said.
The police force even updated its Facebook profile picture to a gold coin, expressing hope that the discovery "ends up in the right place and changes people's lives."
This story—blending history, mystery, and sheer luck—has captivated Belgium while the intricate question of ownership is resolved.
Source: VRT