‘Crisis preparedness’ begins as the Netherlands moves gold out of the United States

The Netherlands has redrawn the map of its gold reserves, moving about 86 tonnes from New York and Ottawa to London as geopolitical uncertainty grows. The Dutch central bank said the change would strengthen the country’s “crisis preparedness” and make its gold faster to access if needed.

Before the operation, New York held 31.3% of the Netherlands’ gold reserves and Ottawa held 19.7%. Their shares have now fallen to 18.5% each. London’s share rose from 18.1% to 32.1%, making it the largest holding location. A high-security facility in Zeist, in the Netherlands, continues to hold 30.8% of the total reserves.

The operation did not involve physically moving every bar. More than 27 tonnes came from the United States and Canada to the Zeist facility, while the same amount moved from Zeist to London. Around 59 tonnes were sold in New York, and the proceeds were used to buy gold in London that met international market standards. The bank said this approach reduced the operational risks associated with transporting very large amounts of gold.

DNB President Olaf Sleijpen said the new arrangement made the reserves easier to trade. He said the bank did not expect the reserves to be needed, but that the Netherlands should improve its resilience and readiness for possible crises. Gold held at the Bank of England can be used more quickly in a crisis than reserves in New York or Ottawa because it meets international trading standards.

The Dutch central bank holds 612.4 tonnes of gold, valued at about 72.2 billion euros at the end of 2025. After the change, London is followed by Zeist, New York and Ottawa as the main locations for the country’s reserves.

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crisis preparedness