On July 1, 2023, the Future Pensions Act came into force. As a result, all pension funds must switch to a new pension scheme before January 1, 2028. The Heineken Pension Fund is planning to switch to the new pension scheme on January 1, 2026.

When we switch, we will transfer all pension entitlements to personal pension capitals in the new pension scheme. We are carrying out the switch in accordance with the agreements that HEINEKEN and trade unions have made with each other. We expect that in our case everyone will benefit from the switch to the new pension scheme.

HEINEKEN and trade unions have drawn up a transition plan in consultation with the joint works councils and with the involvement of the Heineken Pensioners' Association. The transition plan contains all agreements about the new pension scheme. One of the agreements is that the consequences of the switch to the new pension scheme will be distributed as fairly as possible.

It has therefore been agreed that participants for whom the development of personal pension assets due to premium additions in the new pension scheme is disadvantageous compared to the pension accrual in the (current) old scheme will be compensated for this.

When am I entitled to the compensation?

The compensation is only for people who accrue pension with the Heineken Pension Fund on December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. So you are entitled to this compensation if on December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026:

• participates as an employee in the pension scheme of the Heineken Pension Fund; This includes those who are in a work-to-work trajectory on January 1, 2026; and

• are incapacitated for work and, exempt from contributions, are accruing pension with the Heineken Pension Fund.

Are you no longer a participant on December 31, 2025 or January 1, 2026 who is accruing pension with the Heineken Pension Fund at that time, for example because you will be out of employment or retired? Then you are not eligible for this compensation. 

How much compensation will I get

The amount of the compensation depends on your age and the amount of your pension base in 2025. You can find your pension base on MyPension. After January 1, 2026, we can only say with certainty how much compensation you will receive. Because only then do we know the level of the funding ratio and the interest rate: these are two important factors for the final determination of the compensation.

You will be informed by us at least on the following times: 

1. In November 2025, you will receive a letter containing a preliminary first impression that the transition to the new pension scheme means for you, subject to the new pension scheme taking effect on 1 January 2026. This is an estimate. The amount of your compensation is not stated in this letter, because it does not contain any personal pension capital. However, your expected compensation has been taken into account when estimating your future pension.

2. The final compensation will not be known until the spring of 2026. You will receive a letter in the spring of 2026 with your final personal pension capital in the new pension scheme. This letter also states the exact compensation amount. We expect to be able to send this letter between April and June 2026.

3. In spring 2026, your personal pension capital and the expected pension benefits that it will generate will also be on MyPension.

Which choices can affect the amount of your compensation

Changes in your personal situation or work situation may affect the amount of compensation.

• Are you leaving employment or retiring before or on January 1, 2026? Then you are not eligible for compensation.

• Have you started working less in 2025 and has your salary gone down? Then the compensation will also go down.

Always discuss changes in your personal and/or work environment with your employer or financial advisor.

Where does the money for the compensation come from?

The compensation comes from the assets of the Heineken Pension Fund. We will add the compensation to your personal pension capital in one go in the spring of 2026. You will receive a return on this retroactively as of January 1, 2026.

More information

For more information about the compensation, read (the summary of) the transition plan.
And visit our website for all information about the new pension system.