The safety net at a glance

AOW (state pension)

From AOW age, paid by the SVB. You build 2% for every year you live or work here in the 50 years before AOW age.

WW (unemployment)

From the UWV if you lose your job through no fault of your own and worked enough weeks.

Sickness

Your employer keeps paying at least 70% of your wage for up to two years.

WIA (disability)

After two years of illness, the UWV assesses how much you can still earn.

Child benefit

Kinderbijslag from the SVB every quarter for children under 18, regardless of income.

Allowances

Income-related help with rent, healthcare and childcare (toeslagen).

Bijstand

Social assistance from your municipality if you have too little income and savings.

ToolCheck what you can claimEight questions, then every allowance and benefit for your household, with amounts.

AOW: the state pension

67AOW age in 2026 and 2027

67 y 3 mAOW age from 2028

2%of the full AOW built per insured year

50 yearsneeded for a full AOW

Moved here at 30? Then you will miss 13 years and get 74% of the full AOW, unless you were insured abroad or pay voluntary contributions. Read more in AOW explained.

Infographic: the three pillars of the Dutch pension system — AOW is pillar one. Workplace pensions (pillar two) move to the new pension system by 1 January 2028.

If you lose your job or get ill

1
Ill: report sick to your employer
Your employer pays at least 70% of your wage (usually more under the collective agreement) and the company doctor helps you return.
2
Dismissed: apply for WW in time
Apply with the UWV within a week after your last working day. WW is 75% of your daily wage in the first two months, then 70%, up to a maximum daily wage.
3
Duration depends on work history
At least three months, up to a maximum of 24 months for long working histories.
4
Still ill after two years
The UWV assesses you for WIA. How much you get depends on how much you can still earn.
5
No income left
Ask your municipality for bijstand. Savings above a limit and a partner's income count.

Allowances and holiday pay

Infographic: cheat sheet of Dutch allowances (toeslagen)

Infographic: how the Dutch holiday allowance works — Employees get at least 8% of their gross wage as holiday allowance.

Estimate what you are entitled to with the toeslagen calculator and the childcare allowance calculator.

Who pays for it

National insurance contributions (volksverzekeringen: AOW, Anw survivor's pension and Wlz long-term care) are collected together with income tax in the first bracket. Employee insurance (WW, WIA) is paid by employers on top of your salary. That is why the first bracket of Dutch income tax looks so high.