Dutch Central Bank Transfers Gold Reserves to London for Enhanced Crisis Preparedness
The Dutch central bank (DNB) has relocated approximately 86 tons of gold reserves from the U.S. and Canada to London, citing rising geopolitical risks and a need to improve crisis preparedness. The move aims to enhance the tradability of its gold holdings by storing them with the Bank of England, which adheres to international trade standards and offers faster access during emergencies. This decision follows France's recent transfer of 129 tons of gold from New York to European locations between July 2025 and January 2026. DNB Governor Olaf Sleijpen emphasized that while the bank hopes not to use these reserves, it is crucial for resilience in uncertain times. Gold prices have surged nearly 25% over the past year due to global tensions, including U.S.-Iran disputes around the Strait of Hormuz. The relocation results in a more balanced geographical distribution: London now holds 32.1%, Zeist (Netherlands) has 30.8%, and New York/Ottawa each hold 18.5%. The shift reflects growing central bank efforts to diversify gold storage locations amid geopolitical instability.
Topics: central bank strategy geopolitical risk gold reserves