Netherlands: Pensions and Investment News and Analysis
Europe’s second largest pension system is preparing for a historic shift away from the current defined ambition arrangements in favour of one with DC accrual but largely in a collective asset pool. Despite political murmurings among members of the current coalition government, there have been no serious attempts to row back on the reforms, which will kick in from 2025 onwards. The main change for pension funds will be moving away from a system that manages funding ratio, with risk capacity determined accordingly, to one that is arguably better suited to the long-term risk profile of the participants. What’s not to be underestimated is the IT challenge in migrating millions of accounts to the new system.
Pension Funds in Netherlands - Country Report
Netherlands country report 2024: Dutch pension funds distribute buffers
The arguments heat up over what to do with excess funds in Dutch pension schemes
TOP DUTCH PENSION FUNDS 2024
Pension fund/entity | Assets (€’000)
- ABP | 510,000,000
- Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn (PFZW) | 242,360,000
- Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek (PMT) | 84,411,332
- BPF Bouwnijverheid (bpBOUW) | 66,338,803
- Pensioenfonds van de Metalektro (PME)| 55,728,949
©IPE Research; View the Top 1000 European Pensions Funds 2024 for a comprehensive market overview
ABP orders fiduciary manager APG to shed all other clients
The move means APG’s three other fiduciary pension fund clients have to find alternatives
PGGM disbands advisory council amid row over new investment policy
The pension asset manager also tried to fire its chief economist for criticising the firm’s switch to ‘3D-investing’
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
Dutch doctors’ fund focuses on Europe in new equity portfolio
The scheme’s new concentrated portfolio only includes 65 companies
What you need to know about the Dutch DC pension reform
January sees the first three pension funds transfer to a new DC-based accrual system in the Netherlands; others will follow over the next three years
TOP MANAGERS: DUTCH INSTITUTIONAL ASSETS
Company | Assets (€m)
- APG | 569,048*
- PGGM | 243,000
- BlackRock | 206,976
- Achmea Investment Management | 188,763
- MN | 149,457
- Aegon Asset Management | 93,090
- ASR Vermogensbeheer | 74,955**
- Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Mngt. | 74,027
- State Street Global Advisors | 64,262
- Northern Trust Asset Management | 52,349
As at 30.6.24, *31.12.23, **30.06.23
©IPE Research; Sign up to IPE Profesional to see all the data in the latest country report
IPE BEST PENSION FUND IN NETHERLANDS AWARD WINNERS
- 2023 - Rabobank Pensioenfonds
- 2022 - PFZW
- 2021 - PFZW
- 2020 - Shell Nederland Pension Fund (SNPS) and SBZ Pensioen
- 2019 - Stichting Calpam-Pensioenfonds
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Disagreements over pension reform persist in the Netherlands
When King Willem-Alexander read out his speech at the opening of the Dutch parliament, the topic of pensions was missing.
ABP orders fiduciary manager APG to shed all other clients
The move means APG’s three other fiduciary pension fund clients have to find alternatives
PGGM disbands advisory council amid row over new investment policy
The pension asset manager also tried to fire its chief economist for criticising the firm’s switch to ‘3D-investing’
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
Dutch doctors’ fund focuses on Europe in new equity portfolio
The scheme’s new concentrated portfolio only includes 65 companies
What you need to know about the Dutch DC pension reform
January sees the first three pension funds transfer to a new DC-based accrual system in the Netherlands; others will follow over the next three years
Dutch inland shipping fund to merge with transport sector fund
Existing accruals will be transferred to Bpf Vervoer on 1 October 2025
Dutch pension fund appetite for mortgages almost saturated
Most schemes have now reached their target allocation to the asset class, which is also experiencing renewed competition from listed bonds
Dutch doctors fund switches to concentrated equity portfolio
The €10bn fund will only keep about 70 companies in a new buy-and-hold approach
ABP buys €2.7bn Dutch mortgage portfolio
Despite the large purchase, the fund will remain underweight mortgages compared to other Dutch pension funds
Achmea and Sixth Street merge to enter Dutch buyout market
The joint venture comes months after Lifetri, an insurer owned by Sixth Street, pulled out of the Dutch buyout market following a lack of success due to its small size
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