Netherlands' General Old-Age Pension - AOW/General Old-Age Pension Act - AOW/General Old-Age Pension - Netherlands Glossary

A person (male and female) must be 65 years of age to qualify for AOW. A person qualifies on their 65th birthday provided they have been insured at any time. There is no minimum qualifying period.

AOW pensions are based on an insurance period of 50 years (from 15 to 65) for maximum pension. Insurance periods are periods of residence in the Netherlands or voluntary contributions paid while residing outside the Netherlands. The maximum rate of pension is linked to the Netherlands' net minimum wage. There is no relationship between the amount of contributions and the amount of pension received.

The maximum rate of AOW pension for:

• a couple, both pensioners, is 70% of the net minimum wage each,
• a couple, one a pensioner and one a non-pensioner partner under 65 years of age, is 70% of the net minimum wage (in addition the pensioner may get partner supplementary allowance - AOW toeslag - to a maximum of 30% of the net minimum wage, based on the partner's insurance periods),
• a single person is 70% of the net minimum wage, and
• a single parent is 90% of the net minimum wage.

Pensions are paid monthly with an additional holiday allowance accruing monthly and paid annually with the May payment.

The accrued holiday allowance is included in the monthly pension assessed by Centrelink.

Pensions are indexed in line with the CPI increase on 1 January and 1 July of each year.

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Last reviewed: 7 June 2010