Story perspectives

De Nederlandsche Bank Moves 86 Tonnes of Gold to London

9/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

De Nederlandsche Bank shifted 86 tonnes of gold from North America to London.
The move raised London’s share of the bank’s gold to 32.1%, the largest single holding.
President Olaf Sleijpen said the relocation improves tradability and crisis readiness.
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen said the preparations were kept secret until completion for vital public interest.
Analyst John Plassard warned similar relocations could erode confidence in the United States.

History

Historical Context

After the 1944 Bretton Woods pact anchored the dollar to gold at $35 per ounce, successive strains—France’s 1967 gold withdrawal and the 1968 collapse of the London Gold Pool—led President Richard Nixon to suspend dollar-gold convertibility on 15 August 1971. Today, De Nederlandsche Bank’s covert move of 86 tonnes of gold to London echoes those Cold-War-era relocations, testing confidence in the remaining U.S. reserves.

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Story summary

De Nederlandsche Bank shifted 86 tonnes of gold from North America to London.
The move raised London’s share of the bank’s gold to 32.1%, the largest single holding.
President Olaf Sleijpen said the relocation improves tradability and crisis readiness.
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen said the preparations were kept secret until completion for vital public interest.
Analyst John Plassard warned similar relocations could erode confidence in the United States.

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