Workers Find Gold Hoard in Dendermonde; VRT Reports €9 Million Value

Construction workers found a large quantity of gold during renovation work in Dendermonde, Belgium, according to Lokale Politie Dendermonde.

Local media outlet VRT reported that a chest containing numbered gold ingots and old coins was bricked into a cellar wall. The outlet placed the estimated value at about 9 million euros.

VRT did not identify the source of the valuation, and the police post gave no estimated value, weight or purity. Virginia Times has not independently verified the figure.

The discovery was made during refurbishment of a building belonging to CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a social work organization, according to VRT. Employees of construction firm De Brand found the chest and immediately notified their client and police.

In its Facebook post, Dendermonde police said workers contacted the department immediately. Officers collected and inventoried the gold before placing it in a high-security vault operated by federal government services.

The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office is investigating how the gold reached the property and whether it was placed there illegally, VRT reported. A spokesperson said its origin and legal owner remain unknown.

Geert Hillaert of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen told VRT that he saw the find but did not have time to examine it closely. He described the contents as numbered ingots and old gold coins and said astonishment was the first reaction.

Three photos shared by police show the gold at different stages. Photo 1 shows bars and coin stacks arranged on dark blue cloth beside two uniformed officers and an open laptop. Photo 2 shows a bucket filled with coins. Photo 3 shows rows of stamped bars beside construction pipe fittings.

Police warned the public to stay away from the property. VRT reported that dozens of people had already visited to search for gold or see the site.

“Gold-seekers, stay away,” said Patrick Feys of the Dendermonde police zone. Feys said authorities had thoroughly searched the property and were certain nothing remained. He also warned that demolition work had left excavators and dangerous holes around the site.

Hillaert said CAW Oost-Vlaanderen would use any proceeds it receives to expand services for people experiencing homelessness across East Flanders. For now, however, the gold’s legal owner remains unknown.