Commencement dates of pensions

The state pension ages in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are different. This means that if you qualify for a state pension from 2 or all of these countries, your pensions will start on different dates. 

The way you have to apply for your pension is also different depending on where you live. Choose what you want to know more about:

It could be advisable to ask for your Belgian state pension to start at a later date. This will depend on your personal situation. For more information, please contact the Bureau for Belgian Affairs (BBZ).

Table of differences between Dutch state pension (AOW) and Belgian state pension (Rustpensioen)
Born between AOW pension age Belgian state pension
January 1953 to December 1953 66 years and 4 months 65 years
January 1954 to December 1954 66 years and 4 months 65 years
January 1955 to August 1955 66 years and 4 months 65 years
September 1955 to December 1955 66 years and 7 months 65 years
January 1956 to May 1956 66 years and 7 months 65 years
June 1956 to December 1956 66 years and 10 months 65 years
January 1957 to February 1957 66 years and 10 months 65 years
March 1957 to December 1957 67 years 65 years
January 1958 to December 1958 67 years 65 years
January 1959 to January 1960 67 years 65 years
February 1960 to December 1960 67 years 66 years
January 1961 to September 1961 67 years and 3 months 66 years
October 1961 to December 1961 not yet known 66 years
January 1962 to December 1962 not yet known 66 years
January 1963 to December 1963 not yet known 66 years
January 1964 to January 1965 not yet known 66 years
February 1965 to December 1965 not yet known 67 years

It could be advisable to ask for your German state pension to start at a later date. This will depend on your personal situation. For more information, please contact the Bureau for German Affairs (BDZ).

Table of differences between Dutch state pension (AOW) and German state pension (Regelaltersrente)
Born between AOW pension age Regelaltersrente
January 1953 to December 1953 66 years and 4 months 65 years and 7 months
January 1954 to December 1954 66 years and 4 months 65 years and 8 months
January 1955 to August 1955 66 years and 4 months 65 years and 9 months
September 1955 to December 1955 66 years and 7 months 65 years and 9 months
January 1956 to May 1956 66 years and 7 months 65 years and 10 months
June 1956 to December 1956 66 years and 10 months 65 years and 10 months
January 1957 to February 1957 66 years and 10 months 65 years and 11 months
March 1957 to December 1957 67 years 65 years and 11 months
January 1958 to December 1958 67 years 66 years
January 1959 to December 1959 67 years 66 years and 2 months
January 1960 to December 1960 67 years 66 years and 4 months
January 1961 to September 1961 67 years and 3 months 66 years and 6 months
October 1961 to December 1961 not yet known 66 years and 6 months
January 1962 to December 1962 not yet known 66 years and 8 months
January 1963 to December 1963 not yet known 66 years and 10 months
January 1964 to December 1964 not yet known 67 years

Read how to apply for your pension, depending on your situation. Or go to the website at grensinfo.nl for more information first. The best time to claim a state pension is about 1 year before it is due to start. This gives the institutions concerned enough time to calculate how much you can get. 

You live in the Netherlands

You can apply to the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) for your Belgian state pension (rustpensioen) and/or German state pension (Altersrente). The SVB will then forward your claim to the Belgian or German pension institution.

You live in Belgium

You can apply to the pension service in your municipality or to the regional office of the Federal Pensions Service (FPD) for your Dutch AOW pension. The FPD will then forward your claim to the SVB.

You live in Germany

You can apply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) for your Dutch AOW pension. The DRV will then forward your claim to the SVB.

If you have built up a company pension or supplementary pension via your employer, please contact your company pension fund or your personal pension insurer. They can tell you how to apply for your pension.

If you live in the Netherlands and your Belgian or German pension starts before your Dutch pension, you will be required to pay contributions under the Dutch AOW pension scheme and the Anw survivor benefit scheme.

After you reach your AOW pension age, you will only continue to pay contributions for Anw survivor benefit.

If you do not wish to be insured under the AOW pension and Anw survivor benefit schemes

You can apply for an exemption from compulsory AOW and Anw insurance so that you no longer pay contributions under those schemes. This means that your AOW pension will stop growing and that in the event of your death an Anw survivor benefit or orphan’s benefit will be paid at a lower rate or not at all.