Dutch Pension When Leaving Netherlands (2026)

Before we dig in: if you want to understand how the Dutch pension system works from scratch, read our Dutch pension system guide for expats first. This article focuses specifically on what changes when you leave.

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Two Types of Dutch Pension — Two Very Different Rules

The Dutch pension system has three pillars, but for departing expats, two matter most:

Part 1: AOW — The Dutch State Pension

How AOW accrual works

AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet) is the Dutch state pension, paid by the SVB starting at age 67. You build up 2% of the full AOW for every year you live or work in the Netherlands between age 15 and retirement age.

The maximum is 50 years × 2% = 100%. In 2026, the full AOW is approximately:

• Single person: €1,419/month gross
• Partner/couple: €972/person/month gross

These amounts are indexed annually to average wage growth in the Netherlands.

What “leaving” does to your AOW

When you deregister from the Dutch BRP (uitschrijven), your AOW accrual stops. The years you already built up are permanently yours — they do not expire, they are not cancelled, and they will be paid at retirement regardless of where you live. But new years stop counting the moment you are no longer officially resident or working in the Netherlands as an insured person.

This is important: even if you continue working remotely for a Dutch employer after leaving, you typically stop being insured for AOW once you are no longer Dutch tax-resident. The rules depend on your new country of residence and applicable social security treaties.

The AOW calculation by years in the Netherlands

These are gross amounts. Whether or not they are taxed depends on your country of residence and the tax treaty in force — more on that below.

Three concrete examples

Example 1: You leave after 3 years

You arrived at age 28, you are leaving at age 31. You have built up 3 × 2% = 6% AOW. At retirement (age 67), you will receive roughly €85/month gross from the SVB — for life, wherever you are.

It is not a lot, but it is yours. The main question is whether you want to pay to extend it.

Example 2: You leave after 5 years

You have 10% AOW, worth about €142/month at today’s rates. Over a 20-year retirement, that adds up to roughly €34,000 gross in total payments. Not nothing.

At this level, the question of voluntary continuation starts making sense if you plan to stay abroad long-term and your new country does not have a strong state pension.

Example 3: You leave after 10 years

You have 20% AOW, worth about €284/month. Over a 20-year retirement: approximately €68,000 gross. This is meaningful income in retirement. Voluntary continuation for an additional 10 years would take you to 40% — a very different picture.

Part 2: Vrijwillige Verzekering — Buying Back Missing Years

What is it?

When you leave the Netherlands, you can choose to continue building AOW voluntarily by paying a premium to the SVB. This is called the vrijwillige verzekering AOW.

Key rules:

• You must apply within 1 year of leaving (deregistration date)
• Maximum duration: 10 years from departure
• Premium is based on your income in the new country
• You pay annually; you can stop at any time

What does it cost?

The premium is a percentage of your income, capped at the maximum social insurance base. As a rough guide for 2026:

The exact calculation uses the SVB’s premium percentage (approximately 17.9% of pensionable income, capped at the maximum social contribution base). The SVB assesses this annually.

Is it worth it?

Each extra year of voluntary AOW buys you 2% of the full AOW at retirement — currently about €28/month. Over a 20-year retirement, that is approximately €6,700 gross per year purchased.

If you pay €2,000/year for 10 additional years (total: €20,000), you gain 20% extra AOW = ~€284/month. Over 20 years retirement = ~€68,000 gross. That is roughly a 3.4× return, before indexation. For most people in reasonable health, it makes financial sense — especially at lower income levels where the premium is modest.

However, it only works if:

• You expect to reach Dutch retirement age
• The tax treaty with your new country does not wipe out the benefit
• You actually apply within the 1-year window

Apply through: SVB.nl → Voluntary AOW insurance for persons living abroad

What if you miss the window?

There is no appeal, no extension, no exception. If you do not apply within 1 year of deregistration, the option is gone permanently. If there is any chance you want this, apply immediately when you leave and decide later whether to keep paying.

Part 3: Your Employer Pension (Bedrijfspensioen)

What happens to it when you leave?

Your employer pension accrual stops when your employment ends. But the pension you already built up stays with the pension fund — it is “frozen” but not lost. The fund holds it for you until you reach retirement age (as defined in the pension scheme, typically 67 but sometimes earlier).

You cannot cash out your Dutch employer pension when you leave. This is not a rule your employer made — it is Dutch law. Lump-sum withdrawal is not permitted for registered Dutch pension funds.

At retirement, the fund will pay your monthly pension directly to your bank account. This works internationally — but make sure the fund always has your current address and bank details.

Keeping track of your pension

Mijn Pensioenoverzicht (www.mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl) shows all your Dutch pension rights in one place, including AOW projection and all employer pensions. You can log in with DigiD. If you lose your DigiD after deregistering, you can request a new DigiD abroad — it takes longer and requires extra verification, but it is possible.

Keep at least one email address registered with each pension fund. Major Dutch pension funds include ABP (government/education), PFZW (healthcare), PME, PMT, Bpf Bouw, and many sector-specific funds. Each has its own website and contact information.

How much employer pension does an expat typically leave with?

Let me use a salary of €60,000/year and an accrual rate of 1.875% (common in Dutch defined-benefit schemes):

Note: These figures assume a salary of €60,000 with a 2026 franchise (AOW offset) of approximately €17,545. Real amounts depend on your actual salary, your pension scheme’s accrual rate, and whether the scheme uses a career-average or final-salary basis.

For understanding what your gross salary actually means in the Netherlands, including how pension contributions affect your net pay, see my employment contract guide.

Part 4: Waardeoverdracht — Transferring Your Pension Abroad

What is waardeoverdracht?

Waardeoverdracht is the transfer of your accrued pension capital from one pension fund to another. Within the Netherlands, this is standard when you change employers. But what about transferring your Dutch pension to a scheme in your new country?

EU/EEA transfers

Under EU Directive 2014/50 (portability directive), EU member states must allow pension transfers within the EU/EEA in certain cases. In practice, however:

• The receiving scheme must meet Dutch Belastingdienst requirements
• The receiving country must have an approved pension system
• Many Dutch pension funds will refuse transfers even when technically allowed
• The Dutch fund calculates the transfer value, which may be lower than your “paper” pension promise under defined-benefit schemes

If you are moving to another EU country and your new employer offers a pension scheme, it is worth asking both the Dutch fund and the new fund whether a transfer is possible. Do not assume it will work — get written confirmation.

Transfers outside the EU

Transferring your Dutch pension to a non-EU country (UK post-Brexit, US, Australia, Canada, etc.) is extremely difficult and in most cases not possible. The SVB and Belastingdienst impose strict conditions, and very few foreign pension schemes qualify. For most expats leaving for the US, UK, or Asia, the answer is: your Dutch pension stays in the Netherlands and will be paid from there at retirement.

One exception worth noting: the Netherlands has specific social security treaties with some countries (US, Canada, Australia) that affect which country’s pension system you contribute to during your working years there, but these do not generally allow capital transfers of already-accrued pension rights.

Part 5: Tax on Dutch Pension Payments When You Live Abroad

The general rule

When you retire and receive Dutch pension payments from abroad, both the Netherlands and your country of residence have a potential claim on that income. Tax treaties determine which country has the right to tax it.

AOW specifically

The SVB withholds Dutch loonbelasting (wage tax) on AOW payments unless a tax treaty exempts you. You need to request an exemption form (vrijstelling) from the Belastingdienst if the treaty assigns taxing rights to your country of residence. If you do not request the exemption, you may be taxed twice.

Countries where the Netherlands typically retains the right to tax AOW (check the current treaty):

• Germany
• Belgium
• United States (partial — complex rules apply)
• Several other countries with older treaties

Countries where AOW is typically only taxed in your country of residence:

• UK (for now — post-Brexit treaty in effect)
• Canada
• Australia
• Spain
• Many others

This is not legal or tax advice. Tax treaties are updated periodically, and individual circumstances vary. For amounts that matter to your retirement income, consult a tax advisor who specialises in expats or international pensions. The Belastingdienst also publishes a country-by-country treaty overview on its website.

Employer pension

The same logic applies. Your former Dutch employer’s pension fund will withhold Dutch tax unless you present a valid exemption decision from the Belastingdienst. In many cases, you will pay tax only in your country of residence — but you must actively arrange the exemption. Pension funds will not do this automatically.

For a broader understanding of how Dutch tax works for expats, including the M-biljet (emigration tax return) you must file in the year you leave, see our expat tax return guide.

Part 6: Receiving Dutch Pension Abroad — Practical Matters

Bank account considerations

AOW and employer pensions are paid to a bank account. There is no requirement that this is a Dutch bank account. But there are some practical considerations:

• Dutch pension funds typically pay in euros
• SEPA bank accounts (within the EU/EEA) receive transfers without issues
• Non-SEPA accounts (US, UK, Australia, etc.) may incur bank transfer fees, unfavourable exchange rates, or require extra administration from the pension fund

If you are retiring to a country outside the eurozone, receiving your Dutch pension in euros and converting it efficiently matters. A dedicated international transfer service can significantly reduce what you lose to exchange rate margins and fees.

Receive pension payments abroad with Wise →

Wise (formerly TransferWise) allows you to receive euros directly into a Wise account and convert at the mid-market rate, with transparent fees. You can then transfer to your local bank in local currency. For monthly pension amounts of €300–€2,000, the savings over a traditional bank conversion can add up to hundreds of euros per year over a retirement.

Keeping your address updated

Both the SVB and your pension fund(s) need your current address abroad. If they cannot reach you:

• Payment may be suspended pending an in-life check (lifebewijs)
• Annual pension statements will not reach you
• Tax forms may not arrive, leading to unexpected withholdings

Update your address with each pension fund and with the SVB when you move. The SVB also sends periodic in-life checks (especially after age 70) to confirm you are still alive — respond promptly.

Your Pre-Departure Pension Checklist

Use this alongside our full deregistration guide and the complete leaving Netherlands checklist.

Before you leave:

• Log into Mijn Pensioenoverzicht and note all pension funds and projected amounts
• Request a current pension statement (pensioenoverzicht) from each employer fund
• Note your DigiD and keep it active (or download the app before leaving)
• Check your AOW years via the SVB website: svb.nl
• Decide whether you want voluntary AOW continuation — if yes, apply immediately upon departure

Within 1 year of leaving:

• Apply for vrijwillige verzekering AOW (if desired) — do not miss this window
• File your M-biljet (emigration tax return) — see our tax return guide
• Notify all pension funds of your new address and bank details
• Check the tax treaty between the Netherlands and your new country for pension taxation
• Request Belastingdienst exemption from Dutch withholding tax if treaty assigns taxing rights to your new country

Ongoing:

• Keep your address updated with SVB and all pension funds
• Respond to any in-life checks (lifebewijs)
• Check Mijn Pensioenoverzicht periodically to verify projected amounts
• Set up an efficient way to receive euro pension payments (see Wise above)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my Dutch AOW pension if I leave the Netherlands?

No. Every year you lived or worked in the Netherlands between age 15 and retirement age counts permanently. You keep 2% AOW per year, regardless of where you live when you retire. If you lived in the Netherlands for 10 years, you will receive 20% of the full AOW at Dutch retirement age (67), paid to your bank account anywhere in the world.

Can I voluntarily continue building Dutch AOW after leaving?

Yes. The SVB offers a vrijwillige verzekering (voluntary insurance) that lets you continue accruing AOW for up to 10 years after departure. You must apply within 1 year of leaving the Netherlands. The premium depends on your income and is paid annually. This makes most financial sense if you left with 15–40 years of accrual and want to close the gap.

What happens to my employer pension (bedrijfspensioen) when I leave?

Your accrued employer pension stays with the Dutch pension fund. You cannot cash it out when you leave. At Dutch retirement age — or the age stated in your pension scheme — the pension fund will pay your pension to your bank account, wherever you live. You can request an annual statement (pensioenoverzicht) at any time via Mijn Pensioenoverzicht.

Can I transfer my Dutch pension to a foreign pension scheme?

In limited cases, yes. Within the EU/EEA, EU Regulation 2014/50 allows value transfer (waardeoverdracht) to a qualifying foreign pension scheme. Outside the EU, transfers are very rarely possible — most Dutch pension funds do not allow it, and the receiving scheme must meet strict SVB and Belastingdienst requirements. In practice, most departing expats leave their pension with the Dutch fund.

Will my Dutch pension be taxed if I live abroad?

It depends on the tax treaty between the Netherlands and your country of residence. Most treaties assign the right to tax Dutch pension payments to your country of residence, not the Netherlands. However, for AOW specifically, several treaties — including with Germany, Belgium, and the US — give the Netherlands the right to withhold Dutch tax. Always check the specific treaty and inform the SVB and your pension fund of your country of residence.

What is the deadline for applying for voluntary AOW continuation after leaving?

You must apply within 1 year of the date you deregistered from the Dutch BRP (uitschrijven at the gemeente). After that window closes, you permanently lose the option. There is no extension possible. If you are unsure, apply first and cancel later — you can always stop the voluntary insurance, but you cannot restart it once the deadline has passed.

Summary: What You Actually Keep

The Dutch pension system is genuinely good for expats in one respect: what you earn, you keep. AOW rights are preserved, employer pension is preserved, and both are payable worldwide. The main risk is not understanding the rules — and missing the 1-year window for voluntary AOW continuation. That is the one deadline that can genuinely cost you.

If you want a full picture of your Dutch tax and financial situation when leaving, the 30% ruling calculator and the salary checker are useful starting points — and our Dutch employment contract guide explains how pension contributions have been showing up in your pay slip all along.

The pension amounts used in this article are based on 2026 SVB published rates and are rounded for illustrative purposes. AOW amounts are indexed annually. Tax treaty rules change — always verify current rules with the Belastingdienst or a qualified tax advisor before making decisions about voluntary insurance or pension transfers.