Builders working on a cellar in Gent, Belgium, uncovered a stash of gold coins and bars worth approximately £7.5 million, but they were unable to keep the find. The discovery was made while laying pipes for a new sewer system in a former brewery building.
Discovery and Initial Reaction
18-year-old builder Kobe told Belgian news channel VRT: "At first I thought they were €1 coins. Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement. We certainly hadn’t expected to find gold."
Site manager Mario described the moment his team realized what they had found. According to Mario, his colleagues shouted: "We've found gold." He added: "I went to have a look and picked up the gold. We kept digging up more coins and bars. Only then did it really sink in what we’d found. It was a strange feeling."
Consideration of Keeping the Gold
Asked whether they had considered taking the stash for themselves, Mario said: "There are so many coins and bars; it would be almost impossible. Besides, that would be theft." Kobe agreed, saying: "Of course, we did briefly consider keeping it. But it’s simply too much money. If it were a few thousand euros, it might be feasible. But €9million – you simply can’t keep that hidden."
Police Investigation and Charity Involvement
The crew alerted police and CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, the charity that owns the building. Officers are investigating the gold’s origins, with many bars reportedly dated between 1957 and 1961. Charity director Geert Hillaert said: "For all we know, this discovery is the result of some kind of fraudulent activity and the gold has been hidden there." If the charity receives the gold, he said it would be "a very welcome gift", adding: "We will create additional capacity for our target group across the whole of East Flanders."
Kobe hopes the workers will receive a finder’s fee, while Mario said: "After 33 years in the construction industry, this is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this. I don’t think it will ever happen again." Police chief Patrick Feys warned gold hunters to stay away from the dangerous site, saying: "After the treasure was found, the whole site was turned upside down. We’re certain there’s nothing left to find."
