Central Banks Move Gold Reserves to London for Crisis Preparedness

The Netherlands' central bank has relocated approximately 86 tonnes of gold from its reserves in North America to London, aiming to enhance crisis preparedness. This move doesn't involve purchasing additional bullion but rather repositioning existing holdings closer to the world's most liquid gold market.

London is home to the Bank of England, which is one of the largest gold custodians globally, holding around 400,000 bars or roughly 5,000 tonnes. The vaults in London enable swift trading during a crisis due to their high liquidity.

The Dutch central bank's decision comes after several years of robust central bank gold buying, with institutions adding over 1,000 tonnes annually between 2022 and 2024. Even though purchases slowed down to around 863 tonnes in 2025, the level remains historically high.