What is the AOW?
The AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet) is the Dutch basic state pension. You receive it from your state pension age, whether or not you worked, as long as you were insured. It is paid by the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). For decades the age was 65, but since 2013 it has risen step by step in line with life expectancy. Your AOW starts on the day you reach the AOW age.
AOW age by date of birth
The government sets the AOW age five years in advance. It is currently fixed up to and including 2031:
| Born | AOW age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1956 – 28 Feb 1957 | 66 years 10 months | set |
| 1 Mar 1957 – 31 Dec 1960 | 67 years | set |
| 1 Jan 1961 – 30 Sep 1964 | 67 years 3 months | set |
| 1 Oct 1964 – 30 Sep 1966 | 67 years 3 months | projected |
| 1 Oct 1966 – 30 Jun 1970 | 67 years 6 months | projected |
| 1 Jul 1970 – 31 Mar 1973 | 67 years 9 months | projected |
| 1 Apr 1973 – 31 Dec 1975 | 68 years | projected |
| 1 Jan 1976 – 30 Sep 1978 | 68 years 3 months | projected |
| 1 Oct 1978 – 30 Jun 1982 | 68 years 6 months | projected |
| 1 Jul 1982 – 31 Mar 1985 | 68 years 9 months | projected |
| 1 Apr 1985 – 31 Dec 1988 | 69 years | projected |
| 1 Jan 1989 – 30 Sep 1991 | 69 years 3 months | projected |
| 1 Oct 1991 – 30 Jun 1995 | 69 years 6 months | projected |
| 1 Jul 1995 – 31 Mar 1999 | 69 years 9 months | projected |
| 1 Apr 1999 – 31 Dec 2000 | 70 years | projected |
The projected ages are SVB forecasts based on life expectancy figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). By law the AOW age rises by two thirds of the increase in life expectancy, and each November another year is fixed. If life expectancy grows more slowly than forecast, your AOW age may end up lower.
Examples
- Born 10 May 1962: AOW age 67 years and 3 months, so the pension starts on 10 August 2029. This is fixed.
- Born 15 June 1975: projected AOW age 68, so the pension would start on 15 June 2043. Not yet final.
- Born 31 August 1990: projected 69 years and 3 months. As 31 November does not exist, the projected start date is 30 November 2059.
How much AOW do you build up?
You build up AOW over the 50 years before your AOW age. For every year you live or work in the Netherlands, and are therefore insured, you accrue 2%. Fifty insured years give a full 100% AOW. If you moved to the Netherlands at 30 and your AOW age is 68, you could build up at most 38 years, or 76%, unless you insured yourself voluntarily for earlier years. The age at which accrual starts shifts with the AOW age: with an AOW age of 67 years and 3 months it starts at 17 years and 3 months.
This matters a lot for expats. Years worked in another EU country, or in a country with a social security agreement with the Netherlands, usually build up a pension there instead. When you leave the Netherlands, you keep the AOW you accrued and receive it abroad later.
The amount also depends on your living situation: single people get more than people who live with a partner. Amounts are indexed twice a year; check the SVB website for the current figures.
Bridging the gap
If you stop working before your AOW starts, for example because your contract ends at a fixed retirement age, you face an AOW gap. You can bridge it with savings, an annuity, a bridging pension from your pension fund, or by starting your supplementary pension earlier (at a lower amount). The savings calculator shows how much to put aside each month. Dismissal because you reach AOW age does not entitle you to Dutch severance pay.
Frequently asked questions
When do I get my AOW?
On the day you reach your AOW age. If you were born on 10 May 1962, that is 10 August 2029, at 67 years and 3 months.
Is my AOW age final?
For everyone born before 1 October 1964 it is fixed by law. For later dates of birth it is a projection; each November the government fixes it for one more year.
What is the AOW age in 2026 and 2027?
It is 67 in both 2026 and 2027. In 2028 it rises to 67 years and 3 months.
Do I get less AOW if I lived abroad?
Yes, 2% less for each year you were not insured. Years in another EU country or treaty country often give you a pension from that country instead.
Can I take my AOW early?
No. The AOW cannot be brought forward or deferred. Your supplementary workplace pension can often start earlier or later.
Do I need to apply for the AOW?
About six months before your AOW age the SVB sends you a letter. You then apply online through My SVB, including from abroad.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Results are estimates for information only.