Dutch state pension

When will you start receiving your Dutch state pension?

As a rule, everyone who has reached the Dutch state pension age and lives (or has lived) in the Netherlands is entitled to a state pension. This comes into effect from the day you reach the state pension age that applies to you, no matter which country you live in at that time.

The Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) is the organisation that implements the state pension scheme in the Netherlands. Your AOW pension will be paid starting from the day on which you reach your AOW pension age, which is linked to life expectancy. Your definite AOW pension age will be fixed five years in advance and you may enter your date of birth to check your AOW pension age.

Most people are insured under the Dutch state pension scheme automatically

The AOW scheme is an insurance scheme which covers everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, regardless of nationality. For every year that you are insured, you build up rights to 2% of the full AOW pension. If you have been insured for the full 50 years preceding your retirement age, you will receive a full AOW pension.

The latest information about the Dutch state pension is provided in multiple languages on the SVB website.

Exceptions

If you have lived or worked outside the Netherlands, you are likely to have been uninsured during certain periods, and you may receive a lower pension as a result. A small number of people who do live in the Netherlands are not insured under the AOW scheme. If you were born on or after 1 April 1950, you will not receive an AOW pension if you were insured for less than one year.