> PENSION
The new pension rules
Here’s what you need to know
Bpf Koopvaardij plans to switch to the new pension rules as of 1 January 2026. That may seem like a long way off, but behind the scenes we are already working hard to get everything ready. It’s time to bring you up to date.
New
pension rules
The new rules apply to everyone, even if you are already receiving a pension. These are the three main changes: 1 Your pension will be more personal and transparent Under the new rules, everyone will build up a pension through a ‘defined contribution scheme’, i.e. agreements are made on how much money you and your employer will contribute to your pension. This money goes into your personal ‘pension pot’. In the current pension scheme, that pension pot belongs to all of us together. With your new pension pot, you can see more clearly how much you have contributed together with your employer, what investing yields and how much pension you can expect. When you retire, you’ll receive a monthly pension from your personal pension pot.
THE NEW RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE, EVEN IF YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING A PENSION
2 Your pension will develop in line with the economy The new rules mean that your pension will increase more quickly if the economy is performing well. It can also decrease in less favourable times. The new rules do ensure, however, that the fluctuations become less significant when you have retired or are nearing retirement. That’s because there’s then little or no time to cushion investment setbacks in the same way as younger employees can; the level of their pension can therefore fluctuate more. You should note that we can cover deficits in less favourable years with reserves from better years. In that way, we can ensure that pensioners’ pensions remain as stable as possible.
3 Simpler and better rules for the surviving dependants’ pension The rules for the surviving dependants’ pension will be the same for everyone, and it will therefore be clearer what your partner or children can expect to receive. If you pass away after you’ve retired, the surviving dependants’ pension will still depend on what you have built up and how many years you have worked. If you pass away while you are still employed, your dependants will receive a percentage of your final salary, even if you have only just entered into service. In that case, it won’t matter how many years you have worked. Partners and children of members who are still working often get a higher surviving dependants’ pension as a result.
What’s the current situation?
Nothing will change for you for the time being. The social partners are currently discussing the arrangements for the new rules, but the final arrangements have yet to be announced. We expect the social partners to reach final agreement before too long, meaning that the details of the new rules for the merchant navy sector will become increasingly clear.
Bpf Koopvaardij can then get to work on the basis of those new rules. Once the arrangements have been finalised, we will let you know via our website and our newsletter. If you aren’t yet receiving this newsletter digitally, let us know your e-mail address via My Koopvaardij.
What’s going to happen, and when?
2024 Employers and employees in the merchant navy sector are making arrangements on the new scheme and the transition to it. Bpf Koopvaardij will assess whether these are explainable and enforceable.
2024 - 2025 Bpf Koopvaardij is preparing for the transition to the new scheme. Just before the new rules take effect, we will inform you what your pension was before the transition and what it will be afterwards.
1 januari 2026 Bpf Koopvaardij plans to start applying the new pension rules as of 1 January 2026. You'll be able to see your own ‘pension pot’ in My Koopvaardij.
FAQs
The transition to the new rules raises a lot of questions. Here are some of the most important ones. New rules for pensions are on the way, but why are they actually needed? Pensions in the Netherlands are well organised compared to in other countries. There are even countries where people don't build up any pension at all. Everyone who lives in the Netherlands is entitled to the state pension (AOW) and we also build up a pension through our employer. The government doesn’t levy tax on the contribution paid for doing so, and that will remain the same under the new pension rules. But there are also some necessary changes. A major reason is that pensions haven't been increased for a long time, even though the economy has been doing pretty well for years. That feels unfair, especially now that life is getting more and more expensive. But there are also various other problems with the pensions system, and it’s no longer appropriate for life today. People are living longer and enjoying their retirement for longer. They also change jobs more often, take a break from working for a while, or start working for themselves. The new rules fit in better with these changes.
More information
To find out more about the new pension scheme and when we will be making the various changes, go to www.koopvaardij.nl/en/new-pension-system
When will I hear what the consequences are for my pension? When will I know what I’ll be getting? What the new rules will mean for the size of your pension is impossible to say at the moment. That doesn’t just depend on the choices still to be made by the social partners; it also depends on Bpf Koopvaardij’s financial situation at the time when we make the switch. So it’s not possible to make a reliable calculation for each member until the new pension rules take effect. You’ll receive a preliminary estimate just before the switch. You'll see what the size of your pension was before the transition to the new rules and what it will be afterwards. A few months after the switch, we'll provide you with a final overview of your pension under the new pension rules.
Can my pension pot run out, or will I receive a pension as long as I live? You can be confident that you’ll continue to receive a pension for as long as you live. That has been agreed under the new rules. Together, we will ensure there’s always a pension for you, no matter how old you get to be. I’ve already retired. Will I receive a different pension each month? No, you won’t. We fully understand that you don’t want to be surprised by fluctuations in your income. We therefore adjust pensions no more than once a year and they remain stable for the rest of the year. I am building up pension. Will my pension increase more rapidly in the new scheme? Because we will need to keep less money available, your pension can increase more quickly when the economy is doing well. In less favourable times, it may also decrease. However, such fluctuations will be less if you are retired or nearing retirement. Moreover, we can absorb or mitigate setbacks in several ways, for example by absorbing deficits in less favourable years with reserves from more favourable years (the 'solidarity reserve'). ←