Construction workers have discovered a huge quantity of gold while renovating a building in Dendermonde. The gold ingots and coins, valued at around €9 million, were found in a chest, bricked into the walls of a cellar.
The discovery was made during refurbishment on a building belonging to social work organisation CAW Oost-Vlaanderen. Employees from construction firm De Brand stumbled upon the treasure and immediately told their client and the police.
“The gold consists of numbered gold ingots and old gold coins, hidden in a chest in the cellar,” said Geert Hillaert of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen. He saw the find himself but did not have time to examine it in detail. “Surprise and amazement were the first reactions,” he says. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
For all we know, this discovery is the result of some kind of fraudulent activity and the gold has been hidden there
The police took the gold into custody and transported it to a secure location. The East Flanders public prosecutor is now conducting an investigation. “At present, it is not known where the gold came from, nor, from a legal perspective, to whom it belongs,” a spokesperson said.
The public prosecutor’s office wants to establish how the gold ended up at the site, and if it was put there illegally. It is therefore not yet known whether CAW Oost-Vlaanderen will become the owner of the gold. “For all we know, this discovery is the result of some kind of fraudulent activity and the gold has been hidden there,” Hillaert said.
After the treasure was found, the whole site was turned upside down. We’re certain there’s nothing left to find
If the gold does eventually go to the CAW, its intended use is clear. “We will create additional capacity for our target group across the whole of East Flanders,” says Hillaert, referring to the homeless and those living on the streets. “That would be a very welcome gift to help address the enormous need we experience on a daily basis.”
Police are asking people not to go to the site of the discovery. Dozens have already flocked there, in search of gold or out of curiosity. “Gold-seekers, stay away,” says Patrick Feys of the Dendermonde police zone. “After the treasure was found, the whole site was turned upside down. We’re certain there’s nothing left to find.”
Even those who are simply curious are advised to stay away. “But there’s nothing left to see and, what’s more, it’s dangerous because the building is being completely demolished,” says Feys. “The building where the treasure was found is currently being completely demolished. So the site is full of diggers and there are holes all over the ground.”