Police in the city of Dendermonde, Belgium, said the workers discovered a “large quantity of gold” while doing ground works at the construction site
Credit: Dendermonde Local Police Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Construction workers discovered gold thought to be worth over $10 million during groundworks in the city of Dendermonde, Belgium
- Officials have secured the treasure, which included gold bars and coins, and are investigating its origins and legal ownership
- Kobe, an 18-year-old student and construction worker, told Belgian media that they came across the hidden stash ahead of constructing a sewer system
Construction workers in Belgium are celebrating the discovery of gold worth an estimated $10 million during a renovation project.
Police in the city of Dendermonde, around 18 miles north of Brussels, said the workers dug up the “large quantity of gold” during groundworks, per a Facebook post and a report by Belgian outlet VRT.
Officials later came and collected the gold, which was then inventoried and “safely stored as quickly as possible in a high-security vault of the federal government services,” according to the translated statement.
Credit: Dendermonde Local Police Facebook
Police Dendermonde posted a series of pictures that included 49 gold bars laid out on a table, a bucket of gold coins and officers appearing to log the findings on a computer.
The haul’s estimated worth is around €9 million, the equivalent of over $10.4 million, according to VRT.
Police warned treasure hunters wanting to enter the construction site that it was “fenced off” and had “several dangerous pits.”
“Moreover, we have already passed by and everything is definitely gone … so certainly do not take irresponsible risks!” they added.
Credit: Dendermonde Local Police Facebook
“Hoping that this treasure ends up in the right place and that this unexpected discovery can change the lives of many in a positive way!” the post added.
Kobe, an 18-year-old student and construction worker, told VRT that they came across the treasure while undertaking groundworks to build a sewer system.
Credit: Dendermonde Local Police Facebook
“Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement. We certainly hadn’t expected to find gold,” he told the outlet.
Kobe said he initially thought they were just €1 coins but soon realized it was a bigger find after seeing a gold nugget.
Credit: Google Maps
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“After 33 years in the construction industry, this is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this,” site manager Mario told VRT.
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the surprising discovery, per Belgian outlet De Standaard.
“At this moment, it is not known where that gold comes from, nor to whom it legally belongs,” Prosecutor Hanne Ollevier told the outlet.
The building where the treasure was found is owned by the Belgian charity CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which offers support to people in difficulty.
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