Additional Coverage:
- Construction workers uncover $10 million in gold while building sewer under former brewery (foxnews.com)
Construction workers in Belgium made a remarkable discovery this week, unearthing $10.4 million worth of gold while installing a new sewer beneath a former brewery, local authorities report.
The find occurred in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a Flemish town near Brussels. Workers immediately informed police, who cataloged the gold before securing it in a high-security federal vault.
One of the workers, 18-year-old Kobe, told local media that at first, he mistook the gold pieces for regular 1 Euro coins. “Our first reaction was disbelief and surprise.
We certainly didn’t expect to find gold,” he explained. The team had to remove part of an old foundation to lay sewer pipes when the treasure came into view.
Project leader Mario described the moment as “a crazy feeling.” According to him, workers shouted out, “We found gold,” prompting him to inspect the discovery firsthand.
As they continued digging, more coins and bars surfaced, solidifying the enormity of their find. Mario promptly informed his supervisor and notified the police.
Despite the excitement, the construction team will not keep the gold. Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years to claim the treasure. When asked if he ever considered keeping it, Mario replied, “With so many coins and bars, that wouldn’t be possible-and it would be theft anyway.”
Kobe expressed hope for a finder’s fee, saying, “That would be nice.”
The building where the gold was found belongs to a welfare organization serving the Flemish community. The organization’s director expressed hope that the gold could help address the “enormous need we experience daily.”
Local police have cautioned treasure hunters to stay away from the site, noting that it remains a fenced-off construction area with multiple hazardous pits. They confirmed that all the gold has been removed.
In a closing statement, the police expressed optimism: “We hope this treasure ends up in the right hands and that this unexpected discovery positively changes many lives!”