Five largest Dutch pension funds increasing pension payouts

Pensioners from the five largest pension funds in the Netherlands will have a bit more in their wallets this year. The funds are in good financial shape, partly due to rising interest rates, and can therefore increase pension payouts, NOS and ANP report.

All five funds exceeded a 100 percent funding ratio last year. A funding ratio of 100 percent means they have sufficient funds to pay out all pension benefits now and in the future. The higher funding ratio means the funds have room to increase pensions.

Pensioners of PFZW, the pension fund for people working in healthcare and welfare, are particularly lucky. PFZW is increasing pensions by approximately 12 percent. The individual impact will become clear within a few months. All participants will receive a letter with the final calculation. The pension fund’s funding ratio increased from 109.8 percent at the start of 2025 to 125.7 percent at the end of the year.

PFZW is one of the funds that switched to the new pension system this year, in which pensions are accrued and calculated differently. “We understand that this is a tense time for our participants and pensioners,” PFZW chair Joanne Kellerman said. “They all have to move from the familiar system to a new system that still has to prove itself.”

The civil servant fund ABP is increasing pension payouts by 2.8 percent. Its funding ratio increased from 111.7 percent at the end of 2024 to 123.5 percent at the end of 2025. The metal electronics pension fund PME is also increasing pensions by at least 2.8 percent. PME reported a funding ratio increase from 113 percent to 125.3 percent.

Metal fund PMT and construction fund bpfBouw are also increasing pensions, but have not announced by how much yet. PMT’s funding ratio climbed from 108.4 percent to 122.5 percent, and bpfBouw’s rose to 141 percent. The construction fund also switched to the new pension system this year. According to the bpfBouw board, the transition went smoothly.