Virtually all employees in the Netherlands build up a pension through their employer.
There are significant financial questions, such as the monthly payment of the pension premium and the question how large a pension this will provide at the age of retirement. It is important for you as an employee to be clear about your pension scheme. The pension experts at GMW lawyers can assist you with this.
Most employees do not have a choice about participating in a pension. Neither does the employer. About 75% of employees are obliged to participate in the pension scheme which applies to their entire sector. Nevertheless, as an employee you must make sure that the employer registers you as a participant in the pension scheme, that you’re building up the correct pension, and that the pension premium is actually paid to the pension fund.
A smaller proportion of employees build up a pension with a pension insurer through the employer. In that case participation is also often compulsory, but sometimes it is possible to indicate by means of a waiver that they do not want to build up a pension. In this case, no premium has to be paid. Even with an assured pension scheme, an employee must be vigilant about the correct premium payments and about proposals by the employer to change the conditions. It is not possible to simply change a pension scheme, and certainly not without the employee’s agreement.
GMW lawyers advises and institutes proceedings for individual employees, but also for groups of employees, because a pension is collective product. Any change in a pension scheme has consequences for a group or for all the employees in a business or sector.
GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your pension-related legal issues. If you have any questions, please contact us directly using the enquiry form below or +31 (0)70 3615048. Our pension lawyers will be happy to support and advise you.
GMW lawyers will be happy to help you with all your pension law issues. Please feel free to contact us if you have any legal questions.
"*" indicates required fields
15 September 2025
Duty of care in pension compensation
The transition to the new pension system is in full swing. The social partners involved in the pension funds have largely completed their transition plans. These plans always include a section on compensation for current participants, employees, who are disproportionately disadvantaged by the change in the pension system.
Read more
22 July 2024
Getting started with the future of pensions act as works council
In this article, we provide some practical tips for the Works Council to have control over the complex pension dossier for the company and employees.
Read more
7 May 2024
Attention: another new development in employment law legal protection
Many labour law rules come from Europe. Therefore, for their application and enforceability, employers and employees should also look to 'Europe'.
Read more
26 March 2024
Loss of pension
It is common for an employer and employee to terminate an employment contract by entering into a settlement agreement.
Read more
27 January 2024
Supreme Court on amending a pension supplement scheme
On 21 April 2023, the Supreme Court delivered an important ruling on amending a provision in a pension scheme about the granting of supplements (price indexation).
Read more
25 January 2023
What is the Early Retirement Scheme (RVU)?
The retirement age is getting higher and higher, forcing people to work longer and longer.
Read more
10 August 2022
Continue working after retirement and payment of maintenance?
As a divorce lawyer, I frequently get asked whether partner maintenance needs to be paid even after retirement.
Read more
29 July 2020
Pension litigation
Last week, Stichting PensioenBehoud and seniors association KBO-Brabant published a news item on their ongoing lawsuit against the Dutch State about retaining pensions.
Read more
19 May 2020
Dormant employment and retirement
Employers do not always dismiss employees who have been ill for more than two years, for example because they expect the person will recover or be able to perform suitable work within a short time.
Read more
