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Comment by sajithdilshan | Hacker News Reader

I’m surprised why they don’t just move it back to their own country and put it in a safe in Netherland.

The biggest chunk is in the Netherlands, but you want your gold also in other countries, so that you can still access is (and don't loose it) in case of an invasion. Hence almost half is in North America, a completely different (and (somewhat) allied) continent.

It's also easier to sell in certain markets, such as London.

Just to be a pedant, 18.5 % in the US and same in Canada so 37%.

I wouldn't call that almost half, it used to be about half before the move (NY at 31.3, 19.7 in Canada).

Not just so that you don't lose it in case of an invasion, but it is proof that you would be willing to help out the host country in the case they were invaded. Also, that you would not invade them.

In the olden days, the local lords would marry their children together, to create familial groups and ensure that for the forseeable future the local areas would not have a conflict. Modern democracies don't have such valuable family members, we use valuable objects instead.

The United States and Canada must have enjoyed that feeling of safety, knowing that the Netherlands would not invade them. And of course, if someone were to invade the United States (or Canada), knowing that the mighty Netherlands would come to their help would be immensely reassuring.

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