18-Year-Old Discovers Rs 98 Crore Treasure While Working on Sewer Project in Belgium
Belgium: What began as an ordinary day of summer work turned into an extraordinary discovery when an 18-year-old student found a hidden stash of gold and rare coins worth an estimated €9 million (around ₹98 crore) while workers were excavating a sewer line in Belgium.
The treasure was discovered in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, around 30 km northwest of Brussels, during routine work to replace underground pipes.
‘Then We Saw a Gold Bar’
The discovery was made by Kobe, an 18-year-old summer worker, who was working alongside other workers at the site.
Speaking to Belgian broadcaster VTM, Kobe recalled that the team initially thought they had found ordinary coins.
“We suddenly saw something lying there. At first I thought it was €1 coins. Then we saw a gold bar,” he said.
It was only after taking a closer look that the workers realised they had stumbled upon something far more valuable than expected.
The stash reportedly contained gold coins, nuggets and numbered bullion bars. The items had been placed inside a bag that was sealed within a bricked-in cellar wall beneath a historic villa.
Hidden Beneath Historic Villa
The building, known as the Brouwershuis, was constructed in the late 19th century for brewery owner Theophilus Van Assche.
Brewing operations at the site began in 1899 and continued until 1970. The property, which still has wrought-iron gates bearing the initials “VA”, is now undergoing a major renovation.
The work is being carried out by social welfare organisation CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which plans to transform the site into offices and housing.
Geert Hillaert of CAW described the scale of the renovation, saying the historic building is being largely demolished, with only its walls expected to remain.
Treasure Taken Into Custody
Once the gold was discovered, authorities quickly secured the site and moved the treasure to a secure facility in Brussels.
Investigators are now trying to establish where the treasure came from, when it was hidden and who legally owns it.
Hanne Ollevier of the East Flanders prosecutor’s office said authorities first need to determine whether the gold was stolen or connected to any criminal activity.
The discovery could also lead to a complicated ownership dispute. Potential claimants could include the contractors working on the property, the welfare organisation carrying out the renovation and descendants of the Van Assche family.
Under Belgian law, a person who discovers treasure must reportedly wait at least five years to allow potential rightful owners to come forward.
Will the Workers Get a Reward?
For Kobe and his fellow workers, the discovery has already become an unforgettable experience.
The 18-year-old admitted that they understood immediately that such a large find had to be reported to authorities.
“If it had been a few coins, maybe not. But maybe we’ll get some kind of finder’s reward eventually,” he said.
For now, however, the €9 million treasure remains in official custody while investigators work to solve the mystery of how such a fortune ended up hidden inside a century-old building.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
