Belgian Renovation Workers Uncover 9 Million Euro Gold Treasure
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Construction workers renovating a 19th-century villa in Belgium stumbled upon a hidden fortune worth approximately 9 million euros (approximately 81.7 million Hong Kong dollars). The discovery was made on August 11 when workers were laying drainage pipes in the basement of the Brouwershuis (Brewmaster's House) in Sint-Gillis, approximately 40 minutes from Brussels. An 18-year-old summer intern named Kobe initially mistook the golden objects for "one-euro coins" before realizing the true magnitude of the find .
Key Points
- Location: Brouwershuis (Brewmaster's House) in Sint-Gillis, 40 minutes from Brussels; formerly the villa of brewer Theophilus Van Assche
- Current owner: CAW Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders Social Welfare Centre), renovating the property into a homeless shelter
- Discovery: 50 one-kilogram gold bars, over 4,000 gold coins, and gold nuggets; securely stored at a high-security facility in Brussels
- Discovery made by 18-year-old intern Kobe while laying drainage pipes; treasure was deliberately concealed within a bricked-up wall
- Belgian law states that if no legal heir claims the treasure within 5 years, it will be split between the property owner and the discoverers
Why It Matters
The unexpected discovery has reignited public interest in hidden treasures and the legal complexities surrounding accidentally found valuables, while raising hopes for the young intern who found the fortune but must now await the outcome of ownership investigations before seeing any reward .
The unexpected discovery has reignited public interest in hidden treasures and the legal complexities surrounding accidentally found valuables, while raising hopes for the young intern who found the fortune but must now await the outcome of ownership investigations before seeing any reward .