Pension and Transition

The state pension age in the Netherlands is gender-neutral.

State pension and retirement age

The state pension age in the Netherlands is gender-neutral. A change in registered gender has no effect on it.

Occupational pension

Occupational pensions have used gender-neutral calculations since equal treatment legislation was introduced; see anti-discrimination legislation. A transition therefore does not change the value of accrued entitlements.

Partner's pension

For a partner's pension, the type of relationship at the time of death applies. A transition by either partner has no effect on the conditions for a partner's pension as long as the marriage remains intact.

Administrative points to consider

When your personal details are changed in the citizen service number records, it is important to communicate with your pension fund so that payments, payment details and correspondence continue to be handled correctly.

Why it does not matter in the Netherlands

In countries where men and women retire at different ages, a person's registered gender determines when they are entitled to benefits. The Netherlands does not make that distinction. The state pension age is the same for everyone, and the amount depends on the number of years a person was insured in the Netherlands. Since the European equal treatment rules were introduced, pension funds have not been allowed to make a distinction in accrual or benefit payments. Since the end of 2012, insurers have also used rates that are the same for men and women for annuities and life insurance.

European case law

In the United Kingdom, where women were entitled to retire earlier than men for many years, this did lead to legal proceedings. The Court of Justice of the European Union, discussed further under EU policy and transgender rights, ruled in 2006 that a transgender woman was entitled to a pension from the age that applied to women. In 2018, it ruled that the United Kingdom could not require her to dissolve her marriage first. These rulings are particularly relevant in the Netherlands to people who accrued part of their pension in another country.

What you do need to arrange

Your citizen service number does not change when you change your name or registered gender. Pension funds and the Social Insurance Bank receive the new details through the Personal Records Database. After a few weeks, check mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl to make sure all entitlements are listed under the correct name, especially with funds from former employers and pensions from abroad. Also see changing your registered gender, changing your name and marriage and transition.