Dutch Central Bank Moves $13.5 Billion in Gold to London for Crisis Preparedness

The De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has shifted approximately 86 tonnes of its gold reserves from the US and Canada to London. This operation, conducted between March and August 2026, involved a combination of sales and physical transfers, totaling around $13.6 billion in gold.

According to DNB, the bank sold about 59 tonnes in New York and purchased equivalent amounts in London, while transferring over 27 tonnes via its Zeist vaults without the need for remelting the bars. Following this relocation, London now holds 32.1% of the Dutch gold reserves, while New York and Ottawa each hold 18.5%.

The total Dutch gold stock remains at 612.4 tonnes, valued at approximately $83.77 billion at the end of 2025. DNB has stated that this move is part of its strategy to enhance crisis preparedness in light of increasing geopolitical unrest. DNB Governor Olaf Sleijpen emphasized the importance of improving the tradability and deployability of the reserves, noting that while the bank hopes never to need to use the gold, strengthening resilience is crucial.