50 gold bars hidden in cellar walls? Workers stumble upon huge treasure in Belgium

Dendermonde: Construction workers renovating a building in Belgium made an extraordinary discovery this week after uncovering a stash of gold bars and coins reportedly worth more than $10 million.

The find was made on Tuesday in Dendermonde, an eastern Flemish town, when workers came across the hoard while carrying out renovation work.

Police were alerted after the workers discovered what they described as "a large quantity of gold". Images released by Belgian police showed around 50 gold bars alongside piles of gold coins.

Belgian media reported that the treasure, estimated to be worth around nine million euros ($10.4 million), had been hidden inside the cellar walls of a house owned by local charity CAW East-Flanders.

One of the workers, identified only as Kobe, told Belgian broadcaster VRT that the discovery left the crew stunned.

The crew's "first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement."

"We stumbled across it while carrying out groundwork to lay a pipe for the sewerage system," he said. "We certainly hadn't expected to find gold."

Police said the entire haul was "inventoried and secured as quickly as possible in a high-security vault belonging to the federal government services."

The unexpected discovery has already attracted the attention of treasure hunters. Police warned members of the public against trying to access the site, which has been fenced off.

"Apparently, several treasure hunters would like to pay another visit to the site," the police department said in a Facebook post, adding that it had even changed its profile picture to a gold coin following the discovery.

"A golden piece of advice: it is truly pointless," police said, urging curious visitors to stay away.

The ownership of the treasure remains unclear, including whether anyone will ultimately be entitled to keep it.

"Let us hope that this treasure ends up in the right hands," the police post said.

Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years to come forward and claim the hoard, although the local prosecutor, who has opened an investigation, said it was still unclear who that might be.

If no one claims the treasure, civil law provides that a hidden hoard found on another person's property should be divided between the finder and the property owner. The provision applies only if the stash is not found to be connected to any criminal activity.