Retirement age employees further up

The average age of retirement for employees in the Netherlands had risen to 62.7 years in 2010 and the increase was observed across all sectors. More than 70 thousand employees went into retirement last year.

Retirement age raised in 2009 and 2010

In the period 2000–2006, the average age for employees to go into retirement had been 61 years, versus 62 years in 2007. Legislation changes were introduced in 2006 aiming to reduce early retirement. As a result, fewer people went into early retirement prior to their 60th birthday. In 2009 and 2010, the average age of retirement increased further.

Number of retired employees and average age of retirement

 
Number of employees to retire before the age of 60 further down

Last year, 6 percent of employees going into retirement were under the age of 60 versus more than a quarter prior to 2007. The proportion of employees aged 65 or older at the moment of retirement has grown considerably in recent years from 16 percent in 2006 to 27 percent in 2010.

Retirement age employees

Retirement age up in all sectors

The average age of retirement has increased in all sectors between 2006 and 2010. With 2.5 years, the most substantial increase was recorded in public administration and in the sector transport, storage and communication. The age of retirement rose the least in the sector trade and repairs and the construction sector.

With 61.7 years, construction workers had the lowest retirement age in 2010, followed by the health care and welfare sector, public administration and manufacturing industry. The lowest average retirement age was recorded in the sector agriculture and fishery.

Retirement age employees by sector

Koos Arts and Ferdy Otten