The Dutch central bank has relocated 86 tons of gold from North America to the U.K. to improve liquidity and resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Key facts
- •The DNB moved 86 tons of gold to the Bank of England to enhance crisis preparedness.
- •The transfer occurred between March and August.
- •Gold prices have risen nearly 25% over the past 12 months.
- •The current trading price for gold is $4,429.61 per ounce.
- •The French central bank previously moved 129 tons of gold from the New York Federal Reserve.
The Dutch central bank (DNB) has transferred approximately 86 tons of gold from the U.S. and Canada to the U.K. The move, which took place between March and August, represents just over one-quarter of the reserves previously held in New York and Ottawa. The bank stated the relocation is intended to strengthen its crisis preparedness in response to increasing geopolitical unrest.
By the numbers
Strategic Storage and Liquidity
The gold is now stored with the Bank of England, which the DNB identified as a location meeting international trade standards. The bank noted that gold stored in London is recognized as the world's most easily tradable, whereas reserves held in the U.S. and Canada could not be utilized as quickly during a crisis. DNB Governor Olaf Sleijpen stated that while the bank expects never to need the reserves, the relocation improves the overall tradability of its holdings.
Geographical Distribution and Market Context
Following the transfer, the DNB reported a more balanced geographical spread of its gold reserves. London now holds 32.1% of the total, while the bank's cash center in Zeist, Netherlands, holds 30.8%. Remaining reserves in New York and Ottawa account for 18.5% each. The move follows a similar action by the French central bank, which replaced 129 tons of gold held at the New York Federal Reserve between July 2025 and January 2026.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CNBC Europe.
