Belgian renovators strike €9 million gold hoard from walls

Builders renovating a house in east Flanders, Belgium, uncovered a stash of gold bars and coins worth about €9m sealed inside the cellar walls. The loot has been moved to a secure location as police investigate; anyone hoping to claim it faces a five-year window. The property is owned by the charity CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, and under Belgian law the rightful owner has five years to come forward. If unclaimed and not linked to crime, hidden treasure on someone else’s property may be divided between the finder and the owner, meaning both the builders and the charity could benefit depending on future claims.