The Dutch central bank has moved 86 tons of gold from North America to London to prepare for global crises

The Dutch central bank (DNB) has relocated approximately 86 metric tons of its gold reserves out of the United States and Canada to London. The move shifts billions of dollars worth of gold that had been held in New York and Ottawa across the Atlantic into vaults at the Bank of England. In total, the Netherlands owns about 612 metric tons of gold, and this transfer shifts a significant share of its emergency wealth closer to home.

The central bank explained that the transfer is part of crisis contingency planning amid rising geopolitical instability around the world. While the bank does not anticipate an immediate financial collapse, London operates as the primary global hub for trading physical gold. Storing bullion at the Bank of England ensures that if an emergency hits Europe, the Dutch government can trade its gold or convert it into cash immediately, avoiding delays that come with holding bars across the Atlantic.

Following the move, London now holds roughly 32% of all Dutch gold reserves, while the Netherlands holds about 31% inside its own domestic vaults, leaving the United States and Canada with 18.5% each. To avoid huge shipping and insurance costs, the central bank carried out the transfer by selling part of its metal in New York and buying matching bars in London, while physically shipping only what was necessary.