Dutch central bank moves tonnes of gold out of New York

On September 3, 2026, according to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the Dutch central bank completed the transfer of more than 78 tonnes of gold from New York to London. The decision comes amid rising geopolitical tensions worldwide.

Central banks have historically managed gold reserves to protect the value of sovereign assets against international volatility and possible systemic risks. Storing precious metals in foreign financial centres offers ease of operation in global markets, although monetary authorities periodically reassess these locations when they perceive growing political and trade uncertainty among the major powers.

For a European economy, keeping reserves outside national territory means weighing logistical and operational costs against the institutional security guarantees offered by traditional financial centres such as London or New York.

Such moves reflect greater caution in the international financial architecture, where diversification and the physical location of backing assets are once again taking a central role in central bank strategies.

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