What Happens to Your Dutch Pension When You Leave the Netherlands

AOW rights already built remain yours and are paid from your AOW age, also abroad in most cases. You stop building AOW once you are no longer insured, unless you take out voluntary insurance with the SVB within the deadline after leaving.

Workplace pension stays with the Dutch pension fund as a deferred (slapers) pension and is paid from the scheme's retirement age. Keep your contact details up to date and keep access to DigiD or the fund's own login.

Cashing out is generally not allowed. The main exception is a very small pension, which a fund may buy off (afkopen) under statutory rules. Early withdrawal outside these rules can lead to heavy tax charges.

A value transfer (waardeoverdracht) to a foreign pension scheme is only possible in limited cases, typically to a qualifying scheme within the EU/EEA, and the receiving scheme must meet Dutch conditions. Transfers to countries outside the EU are generally not possible without tax consequences. Ask your fund before you sign anything with a foreign provider.

Lijfrente (annuity) products bought with tax relief stay subject to Dutch rules after you emigrate. Moving abroad does not automatically make them payable, and surrendering them early can trigger tax and interest. Ask your provider what happens on emigration before you leave.

Ordinary savings and investments are taxed in Box 3 until you stop being a Dutch resident; after that, your new country normally taxes them.

Who taxes your pension depends on the tax treaty between the Netherlands and your new country. AOW is often taxable in the Netherlands, while workplace pension may be taxable in your country of residence, but treaties differ and some newer treaties give the Netherlands taxing rights above certain amounts. Check the treaty or the Belastingdienst before assuming either way.