In Belgium, a story worthy of adventure novels is unfolding: an 18-year-old student, working on laying sewage pipes, accidentally stumbled upon treasures hidden more than a century ago. The incident occurred on the grounds of a former brewery, located approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Brussels. Initially, the find did not arouse much suspicion in the young man — he mistook the shiny round objects for ordinary one-euro coins. However, further excavations in the basement of a villa built back in 1899 revealed something far more valuable: numbered gold bars and coins.
From 'Euros' to Millions: The Chronology of the Discovery
According to the student himself, the moment of truth came suddenly. "At first, I thought they were 1 euro coins. So we started digging them up. Then we saw a gold bar," he recounted. It turned out that the treasure had been securely hidden in a bag, walled up in the basement wall under a large villa that once belonged to the brewery owner. Currently, this area is undergoing reconstruction: a social welfare organization plans to build office space and housing here. The value of the find, according to preliminary estimates, could reach 9 million euros.
Prosecutor's Investigation and Legal Nuances
The student and his colleagues showed civic responsibility and immediately reported the find to the police and representatives of the organization carrying out the reconstruction. The treasure was promptly transported to a safe location in Brussels. Now, the East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office plays a key role. Authorities must conduct a thorough investigation to establish the legal owner and verify the origin of the gold. Special attention will be paid to ensuring that the gold was not stolen or obtained as a result of any criminal activity in the past.
Who Will Own the Treasure?
The question of who will receive the treasure remains open. Several parties could claim it: construction contractors, the charity organization handling the reconstruction, and possibly the descendants of the brewery owners from the late 19th century. Belgian legislation provides for a waiting period of no less than five years, during which potential owners can claim their rights to the find. The student who discovered the treasure admitted that they immediately realized such value could not be kept for themselves. "If it had been a few coins, maybe not," he added, hoping that in the future the finder would still receive a certain reward.
Contradictory Data
Although the main facts of the find have been confirmed by the police and local media, there are details that require clarification. In particular, the exact sum of the treasure at €9 million is a preliminary estimate and may change after a full inventory and expert examination of the bars. Furthermore, it is currently unclear how accurately the owners of the 1899 villa have been identified, which could complicate the process of finding heirs. For now, all parties await the official conclusion of the experts.
