Three Dutch pension schemes have submitted annual bridging plans to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), in preparation for their switch to the new Dutch pension system.

The three funds that have submitted bridging plans are BPL Pensioen, the pension fund for those in the agriculture and green sector, Pensioenfonds UWV, and Huisarts & Pensioen, the pension fund for general practitioners.

Pension funds are required to submit bridging plans to DNB each year until they switch to the new system. The plans require pension funds to calculate and describe their financial situation for the period until they transition.

In preparation for the transition, the funds are using temporary, more flexible rules to increase pensions, and these plans will apply until the funds switch to the new scheme.

BPL Pensioen plans to switch to the new system in January 2027, Huisarts & Pensioen plans to switch on 1 July 2027, and Pensioenfonds UWV plans to switch on 1 January 2028.

Huisarts & Pensioen said that by using more flexible indexation rules, it expects to be able to increase pensions sooner. However, the extent to which it grants a supplement depends on the fund's funding ratio and wage development in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Pensioenfonds UWV noted that its bridging plan shows its funding ratio is sufficiently high, and it is expected to remain “good enough” until the switch, even though an increase in pensions will have a negative effect on the funding ratio.

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