The first pillar of the Dutch pension system is the General Old Age Act (AOW). This basic income is provided by the government and is intended to enable everyone to make ends meet during retirement. Anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands automatically accrues AOW.

The amount of the state pension (AOW) depends on factors such as being single or cohabiting, and the number of years someone has lived in the Netherlands.

The AOW age is currently linked to life expectancy and is currently 67 years.