NETHERLANDS - With combined assets of €890bn, the Dutch pension sector is the largest in the euro-zone, according to figures from pensions regulator De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the European Central Bank.

Dutch pension funds have €790bn of assets in collective arrangements, carried out by industry-wide pension funds, company schemes and occupational pension funds, the DNB said.

An overwhelming majority of the approximately 480 Dutch pension funds still have defined benefit arrangements in place.

A large number of companies have directly concluded pension contracts with life insurers, while employees can also individually save for their pension through annuity insurance.

The DNB said combined pension assets at insurers amounted to an additional €100bn.

It added that the Dutch pension and insurance sector was the third largest in the euro-zone, with combined assets of €1.2trn.

The DNB and the ECB estimated the balance total of both sectors in the euro-zone at €7trn, of which France and Germany account for  €2trn and €1.9trn, respectively.

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