Nearly half of Dutch divorcees forgo pension split to avoid conflict, study finds
Nearly half of divorced people in the Netherlands skip dividing their pension with their ex-partner, even though the law entitles both to half of what was earned during the marriage, according to new research by Wijzer in geldzaken (Money Wise), an initiative of the Ministry of Finance.
Under Dutch law, spouses are each entitled to half of the pension accrued during marriage. The rule is meant to protect the partner who has built up less pension, often due to caregiving or part-time work.
The study found that 41 percent of divorced couples waive the legal “equalization” rule, which ensures an even pension split. The main reason: they want to avoid conflict or hassle, cited by 26 percent. Emotional turmoil also plays a significant role—39 percent said feelings like anger and sadness shaped their choice. When emotions drive the decision, people are more likely to feel the pension division was unfair afterward, researchers found.
How lawyers or mediators handle the topic can determine whether couples share their pension at all, said Lianne Aarntzen, an assistant professor at Utrecht University. “If professionals emphasize fair compensation for the partner who built up less pension due to caregiving, couples are less likely to waive equalization,” Aarntzen told NOS.
“But when they stress the right to one’s own pension, people more often skip the split. The way professionals frame the conversation can be decisive—maybe because emotions matter more than knowledge,” Aarntzen added.
The findings were released ahead of the 15th annual Pensioen3daagse, a three-day campaign starting November 11 that aims to raise awareness of the long-term financial effects of life changes such as divorce.
“During big life changes, people tend to focus on the present, not the future,” said Christian Meijer of Wijzer in geldzaken. “When you separate, marry, or change jobs, the pension impact can be huge. Awareness helps you make better choices for the future.”
