Netherlands relocates its gold reserves, transferring 86 tonnes to London

The Dutch central bank has redistributed part of the country’s gold reserves, transferring approximately 86 tonnes from holdings in the United States and Canada to London, as part of efforts to bolster crisis preparedness amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

The bank stated that the operation, carried out between March and August 2026, aimed to enhance the liquidity and accessibility of gold for potential use in emergencies, leveraging London’s status as a leading global hub for physical gold trading. As a result, the share of Dutch reserves held in London rose from 18.1% to 32.1%, while the shares in New York and Ottawa each declined to 18.5%.

The Netherlands’ total gold reserves stand at 612.4 tonnes, valued at approximately 72.2 billion euros as of the end of 2025.

Central Bank Governor Olivier Snijders said the move strengthens the bank’s ability to access reserves during crises, although he does not anticipate the need to deploy them. The redistribution was executed through buy and sell transactions, alongside the physical transfer of more than 27 tonnes of gold.