Gold found in Belgium
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Belgian student Kobe, 18, found €9m gold hoard in cellar wall while digging sewers. Ownership disputed among finders, owner, and possible heirs.
Background
During renovation of a former brewery in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, workers discovered a chest of gold coins, nuggets, and bars bricked into a cellar wall. The gold is estimated to be worth €9 million. The building is owned by social welfare organization CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which plans to use the money for homeless support if it gets it. The discovery has sparked a legal dispute over ownership, with the finders, the owner, and possible descendants of the original brewery owner all having potential claims.
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026Workers, including 18-year-old student Kobe, discovered the gold hoard while laying sewage pipes at the former brewery site in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde.
- Aug 13, 2026The Public Prosecutor's Office of East Flanders confirmed the discovery and launched an investigation into the gold's origin and legal ownership.
- Aug 14, 2026News outlets reported the discovery, and police warned treasure hunters to stay away from the site, saying the gold had been moved to a secure location.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Prosecutor Hanne Ollevier said authorities must verify the gold was not stolen or criminal proceeds, and that ownership is uncertain.
- Owner
- CAW Oost-Vlaanderen director Geert Hillaert expressed surprise and said if the organization gets the gold, it could expand support for homeless people.
- Public
- Former mayor Piet Buyse speculated that the Van Assche family's fortune likely stayed in the family and could have been hidden in gold.
Still unverified
The exact date of the discovery is not confirmed; reports say 'earlier this week' or 'Tuesday' but the specific day is not stated. The gold's origin and whether it was deliberately hidden by the Van Assche family is speculation.