What is the first pillar?

The first pillar of the Dutch pension system is the General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW). This basic income is provided by the government and is intended to enable everyone to make ends meet during retirement. Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands automatically accrues AOW.

The amount of the AOW depends on factors such as being single or living together, and the number of years someone has lived in the Netherlands.

The AOW age is nowadays linked to life expectancy and is currently 67 years.