Boys, 9, find WWII explosive in Belgian nature reserve

A seemingly ordinary day of exploration turned into a suspenseful adventure for nine-year-old neighbors Jack and Quinten in Gooreind, Belgium. Armed with a metal detector, the boys were searching the grounds of the Kochsegoed nature reserve when they unearthed a potentially dangerous artifact from World War II.

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It's good it ended well, because we dropped it 3 times.

Quinten, who lives nearby and has a passion for metal detecting, was particularly drawn to the Kochsegoed estate due to its history, including rumors of old ammunition pits. He had received a metal detector as a gift and enjoys searching for treasures. While exploring near an old ammunition pit, Quinten spotted an object partially buried in a sandbank. Initially mistaking it for a drill bit, he picked it up, recounting that he dropped it "three times," which added to his apprehension.

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I first thought it was something like a drill.

His mother, An, used Google Lens to identify the object as likely the fuse of an artillery shell from World War II. She immediately recognized the danger and advised Quinten not to touch it, although he already had. The boys then placed the fuse back where they found it and contacted the police, who cordoned off the area. The explosive ordnance disposal unit (DOVO) arrived and safely removed the munition head.

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When Quinten's mom had looked up what the object was, I secretly found it quite scary. I was glad nothing happened.

Jack admitted to being scared once the true nature of the find was understood, stating he was relieved that nothing happened and that while he still enjoys treasure hunting, he prefers to avoid dangerous locations. The incident highlights the lingering presence of wartime remnants and the importance of caution when encountering such historical finds.

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I then looked it up with Google Lens and then I read that it was presumably the fuse head of an artillery shell from the Second World War.