Pensions

Dutch seniors living abroad face various pension challenges. They are sometimes hit twice or are unable to access their own state pension (AOW) status. Applying for and maintaining pension and AOW benefits from abroad is also difficult, partly due to the mandatory "declaration of life" (attestatie de vita).

AOW and Pension

In the Netherlands, we have AOW (state pension) and pensions as retirement benefits. This is often arranged differently in other countries.

AOW

You accrue AOW benefits in the 50 years preceding your state pension age, provided you live in the Netherlands during that period. Even if you didn't work during these years but lived in the Netherlands, you'll still accrue AOW benefits. However, note: for each year you live abroad, your AOW benefits are reduced by 2%.

It is generally possible to pay voluntary AOW contributions for up to ten years after leaving the Netherlands and thus still accrue AOW benefits. A request for this must be submitted no later than one year after leaving the Netherlands.
Living outside the Netherlands but working in the Netherlands? In most cases, you'll still be insured for the AOW (state pension) and accrue AOW benefits.

If you reach the AOW retirement age abroad, you will receive an AOW benefit from the Netherlands, to the extent that you have accrued AOW benefits.

In a number of countries, the AOW benefit is being reduced because the cost of living in those countries is lower than in the Netherlands.
In some countries, being entitled to AOW (state pension) also means that compulsory health insurance must be maintained in the Netherlands.
Receiving AOW (state pension) from the Netherlands often also means that you become liable to pay taxes in the Netherlands again.

All information about AOW (state pension) and living outside the Netherlands can be found on the following websites:

Pension

Even if you live abroad, your pension will still be paid out by the pension funds where you built it up.

Your pension fund can inform you about the exact procedure. You must contact your pension fund yourself for this.
Do you pay tax on your pension in both your country of residence and the Netherlands? And is there a tax treaty with your country of residence stipulating that you only have to pay tax on your income in your country of residence? Then you may be exempt from paying this tax in the Netherlands.

Transferring pension accrued in the Netherlands to a pension fund of your new foreign employer is possible under certain conditions. Read more about this on the Tax and Customs Administration website .