Start with your insurance history
AOW depends on Dutch insurance, not nationality or population-register registration alone. Living or working in the Netherlands often leads to coverage, but international agreements, postings or other employment may create exceptions. Ask the SVB to establish your periods.
Each insured year in the 50 years before AOW age builds 2% of a full AOW pension. Foreign years do not automatically create Dutch AOW. Before leaving, ask whether voluntary continuation is possible and which deadline applies.
European coordination
European rules can combine insurance periods from different countries when testing a minimum qualifying period. They do not create a single pension pot. Countries calculate and pay their own pensions under their rules; starting ages can differ. Short insurance periods have special rules.
Applications normally go through the pension institution where you live. If you never worked there, the last country where you worked is normally the contact. Declare all countries and periods. Outside European coordination, check whether a treaty applies.
Workplace pensions and postings
Not every employee in the Netherlands has a workplace pension. An industry, profession or employment agreement may require participation. Ask which scheme actually covers you. An A 1 certificate concerns applicable social security and does not itself prove that your supplementary pension continues unchanged.
Cross-border pension transfer is not an unlimited automatic right. Providers and applicable pension and tax rules determine the conditions. A tax-free expense allowance for expatriates does not automatically make pension participation optional.
Tax and records
The payment type and current tax treaty determine taxing rights. Treaties do not automatically assign all AOW taxation to the Netherlands. Distinguish AOW, government-service pensions, workplace pensions and annuities and check special conditions.
Keep a timeline of residence and employment, foreign pension statements and providers’ contact details. Mijnpensioenoverzicht is not a complete inventory of all foreign and individual arrangements. Start international applications early and ask the competent institution about the required steps.
What does BPH do?
Bureau Pensioen Hulp has no AFM licence. BPH provides general education and, on request, can introduce you to an external adviser using contact details only. BPH does not provide personal product recommendations, compare products for you or mediate in arranging them. Check an external adviser’s authorisation, services and fees yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do all foreign years become Dutch AOW years?
No. European aggregation for an eligibility condition differs from Dutch AOW accrual.
Does an A 1 determine my workplace pension?
No. Check the supplementary pension scheme separately.
Sources and reference date
Reference date: 28 October 2026. Check your own scheme and current conditions before deciding.