Construction workers in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, unearthed approximately $10.4 million in gold while excavating for a new sewer system beneath a former brewery. Local police were immediately notified of the discovery.
Workers encountered the cache, consisting of gold coins and bars, after removing a section of foundation to lay piping. One 18-year-old worker, Kobe, initially mistook the items for 1 Euro coins. "Our first reaction was actually disbelief, surprise. Of course, we didn't expect to find gold," he told VRT news.
The discovered gold has been secured by authorities in a federal government vault. Under Belgian law, the original owner has a five-year window to claim the treasure. The property where the gold was found is owned by an organization that provides welfare support.
Officials from the organization expressed hope that the gold could assist in meeting their daily needs. Police have cautioned the public against visiting the site, describing it as a dangerous, fenced-off construction zone from which all gold has been removed. They anticipate the discovery will positively impact lives.
Mario, the project leader, described the moment of discovery as "a crazy feeling," recounting how his workers alerted him to the find before he, in turn, contacted his supervisor and the police. He noted that the sheer volume of coins and bars made the idea of keeping them impossible and that such an act would constitute theft. The workers have been informed that they are not entitled to keep the gold, although Kobe expressed a desire for a finder's fee.
