Belgian workers found €240,000 gold pot, but court convicted all three of theft

Three demolition workers in Belgium discovered a hidden pot of gold coins while dismantling an old house in 2019. But what appeared to be a stroke of luck eventually brought them before a criminal court. The coins were estimated to be worth €240,000. Instead of reporting the discovery, the workers divided the treasure among themselves and sold part of it. Their actions came to light after rumours spread about the find, prompting the former homeowner's family to report the matter to authorities and triggering a lengthy legal investigation.Belgian demolition workers found €240,000 worth of gold during demolitionThe discovery took place in October 2019 in Assebroek, a suburb of Bruges, when three construction workers were carrying out demolition work on an old property. According to The Brussels Times report of June 2025, the workers uncovered a pot of gold coins in a concealed space beneath the cellar while accessing the area with a crane.The workers were identified as F.M., 46, from Zedelgem, T.D., 46, from Ypres, and P.K., 50, from Oostkamp. The hidden compartment was not part of the demolition plans, making the discovery unexpected.The coins included South African Krugerrands and Belgian ECU pieces. The ECU was a European currency unit used before the introduction of the euro.