Gold worth R$54 million found in wall of house in Belgium sparks legal dispute
An extraordinary discovery shocked construction workers in Belgium on August 15, 2026, when a stash of gold valued at around R$54 million (equivalent to €9 million euros) was found hidden in basement walls. The find, made up of bars and coins, quickly sparked a debate over its ownership, involving workers and the charity that owns the property in the East Flanders region.
Details of the unusual discovery during renovation
The hidden treasure was revealed by workers as they drilled into the ground to install new sewage pipes at a property. The house, located in the East Flanders region of Belgium, belongs to CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, an organization that provides social assistance in the Flemish community of Dendermonde, approximately 32 kilometers from Brussels. The local police, when releasing images of the collection, confirmed the authenticity and considerable volume of the material.
More on this story: Ten million dollars worth of gold appears in Belgian brewery during sewage works
The surprise and first reactions of the workers
Disbelief marked the moment of discovery for the team of workers, which included 18-year-old Kobe, working during the summer holidays. He reported that the first impression was that the coins would be of low value. “But then we also saw a nugget of gold there. That’s when we realized it was something bigger,” said the student.
Given the magnitude of the find, the construction manager, Mario, and his team promptly informed the police. They explained that despite the large quantity of coins and bars, keeping the items was not a viable option. “That would be theft,” said Mario, stressing that it was impossible to keep a value of €9 million hidden.
What does the owner institution expect from the find?
Geert Hillaert, director of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, expressed his surprise and amazement at the discovery. The organization, which works with social assistance in Dendermonde, expressed the hope that the treasure could, in the future, be directed to support the entity’s work. Hillaert emphasized the “huge need” they experience and the possibility of gold changing the lives of people who depend on their services. The corporation even updated its profile photo on social media with the image of a gold coin, demonstrating the internal impact of the event.
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What Belgian legislation says about hidden treasure
The discovery of the gold triggered an investigation by the local prosecutor, who seeks to identify the rightful owner. Belgian law sets a five-year deadline for the original owner to claim the treasure.
If no one comes forward or it is not possible to prove ownership within five years, civil law dictates that the treasure found on someone else’s property be divided.
- Legitimate owner:You have a period of five years to claim the treasure.
- Legal division:If no owner comes forward, the money is split equally between the workers who found it and the charity that owns the property.
- Condition:The division is only applied if it is proven that the treasure is not linked to criminal activities.
Therefore, both the workers and CAW Oost-Vlaanderen will have to wait 1,823 days to know the outcome of the situation.
Police reinforce security and warn local population
Following the discovery, police acted quickly to secure the location and move the gold to a safe environment. The corporation warned the population not to go to the residence in search of more treasures, informing that the house had already been completely searched and all valuable material collected. The objective of the measure was to prevent incidents and guarantee the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
