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Dendermonde gold hoard
Belgian authorities are investigating a treasure valued at 9 million euros found in the Belgian town of Dendermonde in East Flanders after workers uncovered gold bars and coins hidden in the walls of an old ruined house during routine demolition and preparation work.
“a group of workers uncovered a treasure valued at 9 million euros hidden in the walls of an old ruined house”
The loot was walled up in the basement of the property and consisted of approximately 50 gold bars and hundreds of coins of high numismatic value, with the estimated value reaching 9 million euros (about 10.4 million USD).
The workers carrying out the renovation reported the discovery to local police immediately, and security forces transferred the collection of bars and coins to a high-security facility while the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office coordinates the inquiries.
The house where the discovery occurred originally belonged to the Van Assche family, three wealthy brothers who died without direct descendants, and historical records contain no mention of the existence of this estate in the brothers’ wills.
Police keep it secret
In Dendermonde, local authorities have not yet determined who hid the ingots and gold coins valued at nine million euros, and the gold is kept “in safe keeping” at a secret location, the local police assure.
Luc Michiels, a retired engineer who chairs the local historical association, said: “It’s incredible, how is it possible that no one knew about the hidden gold?” while looking at what remains of the house and holding archives of the old brewery behind the family home.
Michiels said his initial theory that the gold had been hidden during World War I or World War II collapsed after photos released by the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office showed some ingots date from 1957 and 1960.
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office continues trying to “determine whether the case has any penal aspect” or not, so it would become a “civil matter” outside its competence, a spokesperson said by email.
Criminal angle and heirs
Belgian legal rules for treasure finds set a procedure that distinguishes between treasures with no identifiable owner, assets connected to criminal activities, and heritage with recognizable legitimate heirs, with authorities having up to five years to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
“authorities have up to five years to conduct a comprehensive investigation”
The regulations also provide that if no legitimate owners are proven to exist nor any connection to illicit activities is established, the legal balance tips in favor of the current property holder, which in this case could be the CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk), a non-profit organization dedicated to social work in the Flemish region.
OkDiario reports that the property is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen and that the Public Prosecutor’s Office of East Flanders has an open case to certify the coins’ age, verify the lawful origin of the funds, and rule out ties to past criminal activities.
OkDiario adds that if authorities find no valid legal claim and award the treasure to the organization, the director of CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, Geert Hillaert, said the money will be entirely used to fund new reception centers and social services for homeless people in the region.