Work to transition to the new Dutch pension system is continuing at pace, with further progress towards the switch made by several schemes, including Dutch Pension Fund for Healthcare and Welfare (PFZW), Pensioenfonds Detailhandel and Shell Nederland Pensioenfonds Stichting (SNPS).

The Dutch Pension Fund for Healthcare and Welfare (PFZW) recently shared an update confirming that it is now in the process of sending out sample calculations for the new pension scheme by post and e-mail to active, retired, disabled, and former employees in healthcare and welfare.

The sample calculation is not based on the participant's own data and situation, but on that of a person in a similar situation, using key details such as age, salary, and number of years of work experience.

Members are then expected to receive an initial calculation of their real pension in autumn 2025, ahead of the PFZW's intended switch to the new system on 1 January 2026.

In addition to this, the Dutch pension fund for workers in the retail sector, Pensioenfonds Detailhandel, has confirmed that it has now submitted its implementation plan to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the communication plan to the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets.

It also confirmed the group's intended transition date of 1 January 2026, although it clarified that it is not yet certain whether the new scheme can actually be introduced on that date, with further clarification to be shared in the summer months.

Shell Pension Netherlands has also provided an update on its work towards the transition, highlighting work to ensure a smooth transition to the new pension system by 1 January 2026 as a key priority for this year.

In its latest annual report, SNPS chairman, Martin ten Brink, described the scheme's submission of the implementation plan to DNB in December 2024 as a "real milestone".

He also confirmed that the group received confirmation in March 2025 that its communication plan complied with all legal requirements and does not need further revision.

"We expect a positive response from DNB," he added. "After all, SNPS already operates under the rules of the new pension legislation."

This was echoed by SNPS executive board member, Eveline Smeets, who argued that "technically speaking, there’s no real ‘transition’ in our case", emphasising that whilst the additional administration is "frustrating", there is no alternative.

"Participants’ existing capital will simply be carried over into the new scheme, and their investment options will remain the same," she explained.

"That means nothing changes to the pension they’ve already accrued. Still, under DNB’s definition, we are required to formally transfer these pensions. So yes, that means a lot of additional — sometimes unnecessary — administrative work. It can be frustrating. But there’s no real alternative.”

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