Overview
- Workers installing a sewer line in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde uncovered coins, nuggets and about 49–50 gold bars bricked into a cellar wall on Tuesday and immediately alerted their foreman and police.
- Lokale Politie Dendermonde photographed and inventoried the haul before transferring the gold to a federal high-security vault for safekeeping.
- East Flanders prosecutors are investigating provenance and checking for links to theft or other crimes that could bar civil claims.
- CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, the charity that owns the property, said it hopes any lawfully obtained proceeds could help local welfare services while the finders await any legal finder’s fee.
- If no lawful owner emerges within five years and no criminal ties are found, Belgian civil law allows the treasure to be divided between the finder(s) and the property owner.