Dutch Central Bank Shifts 86 Tonnes of Gold to London Amid Geopolitical Unrest

The Dutch central bank has moved 86 tonnes of its gold reserves from the US and Canada to London due to 'increasing geopolitical unrest'. The DNB bank stated that gold reserves held in London can be traded more easily than those held in New York and Ottawa, making it quicker for the DNB to deploy in a crisis situation. With this move, the Dutch bank has improved the deployability of its gold reserves.

The total Dutch gold stock amounts to 612.4 tonnes and was valued at 72.2 billion euros ($83.65 billion) at the end of 2025. Before the deployment, 31.3% of the Dutch gold reserve was held in New York and 19.7% in Ottawa. After the move, each country accounts for 18.5% of the Dutch gold reserve.

Laurent Schwartz, president of the Paris-based National Gold Counter, stated that central banks have been moving their reserves around for about a decade. The London market is the 'deepest and most liquid', making it easier to deploy in times of crisis. Central banks can more easily lend their gold there to other banking institutions.