Dutch Central Bank Moves Billions in Gold to London Amid Geopolitical Unrest
The Dutch central bank has moved billions of dollars in gold from North America to London due to increasing geopolitical unrest. According to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), it transferred 86 tons of gold reserves out of a total of 313 tons from the US and Canada to the UK. This complex operation took several months, with some gold bars moved from New York and Ottawa to Zeist in the Netherlands before being sent to London.
The decision comes amidst growing economic and geopolitical instability, including trade tensions between Canada and the US. Bank president Olaf Sleijpen said the move was 'necessary to strengthen our resilience and preparedness.'
The transfer involved moving 27 tons of gold bars from New York and Ottawa to Zeist in the Netherlands, with a similar quantity and quality then moved to London without needing to melt them down. The rest of the transfer was carried out by selling the gold in New York and repurchasing it in London.
DNB stated that the gold held with the Bank of England is 'regarded as the world's most easily tradable gold,' making it more readily available in a crisis situation than if it were still in the US or Canada. The total Dutch gold stock was 612.4 tonnes at the end of 2025 and has been valued at €72.2 billion, DNB said.