While carrying out a drainage project at the former brewery site, construction workers including an 18-year-old summer student uncovered 49 numbered bullion bars and thousands of coins. The late-19th-century property, originally built for brewer Theophilus Van Assche, is presently owned by the social welfare organisation CAW Oost-Vlaanderen. Officials have placed the cache in a secure government facility in Brussels while historical and criminal investigations proceed. If no definitive owner establishes a legal claim within the five-year window, the fortune may ultimately be split between the finders and the site's owner.
Key points
Local historian Piet Buyse noted that the fortune could potentially be tied to late-19th-…: Local historian Piet Buyse noted that the fortune could potentially be tied to late-19th-century brewer Theophilus Van Assche.
Competing claims for the treasure may arise from descendants of the Van Assche family, CA…: Competing claims for the treasure may arise from descendants of the Van Assche family, CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, and the construction workers.
Belgian law provides a five-year statutory period extending to 2031 for rightful claimant…: Belgian law provides a five-year statutory period extending to 2031 for rightful claimants to establish legal ownership of the gold.
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An ordinary construction job in Belgium turned into an extraordinary discovery when an 18-year-old student and his colleagues uncovered a hidden fortune while working on a drainage project. The find, estimated to be worth €9 million (approximately ₹99 crore), has since prompted an investigation into the gold's origins and the question of who has the legal right to claim it. According to reports by The Guardian, BBC News and Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the discovery was made on August 11, 2026, at a former brewery property in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, around 30 kilometres north-west of Brussels. The workers were removing part of the building's foundation to make way for new sewage pipes when they came across the concealed treasure. The student, identified only as Kobe, was working a summer job with construction company De Brand. What initially appeared to be ordinary coins turned out to be part of a much larger collection of precious metal. As the workers continued excavating, they discovered gold bars and other pieces of bullion hidden inside the building's masonry.
State-run operations across the National Capital Territory will pause to observe the major festival dedicated to the Sun God, during which devotees offer sunrise and sunset prayers. The administration secured formal approval from the Lieutenant Governor before notifying municipal bodies and ministries. This directive ensures public employees can participate in the rituals associated with Pratihar Shashthi.
Enforcement authorities intercepted individuals believed to be targeting wildlife in the northeastern state. The apprehension halts the activities of an alleged network operating within the region. The operation marks another enforcement step aimed at safeguarding vulnerable species from illegal trade.
At 81, the veteran writer took home the £50,000 literary award on his first career nomination, simultaneously setting a record as the oldest recipient in the prize's history. The unanimous decision by the judging panel delivers a major milestone for genre fiction and marks the first Booker triumph for publisher Serpent's Tail.