Belgium: Gold hoard worth 9 million euros found in house wall

Workers renovating an old house in Belgium stumbled upon a significant treasure, unearthing gold bars and coins valued at up to 9 million euros. The discovery was made in a basement wall as the crew was laying pipes for a sewage system.

One of the workers, 18-year-old student Kobe, described the moment of discovery, initially mistaking the items for one-euro coins before realizing they were gold. "And then I saw a gold bar next to it. And then we realized we had found something bigger," he told the BBC.

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I first thought they were 1 euro coins. But then I saw a gold bar next to it. And then we realized we had found something bigger.

The construction crew promptly contacted the police, with the foreman, Mario, emphasizing that keeping the treasure would have been unthinkable and akin to theft due to its sheer volume. "There are so many coins and bars – it would have been almost impossible," he stated.

Authorities have since marked all the gold bars. Details regarding when and where the coins and bars were manufactured remain undisclosed. Local media reports indicate the house in the Dendermonde region of northern Belgium has a historical connection to an entrepreneurial brewer since the late 19th century. The property is currently undergoing a complete renovation for CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, an organization providing social assistance in Dendermonde.

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There are so many coins and bars – it would have been almost impossible. And it would have been theft.