The new pension plan started January 1, 2026!
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The new pension plan started on January 1, 2026! An important milestone for the Heineken Pension Fund and for all our participants, former participants and pensioners. The board has carefully and successfully prepared and executed the transition. The Dutch Central Bank (DNB) previously gave the green light for the switch Heineken Pension Fund is ready for the future with the new pension plan.
The distribution of the fund's buffer
The funding ratio of December 31, 2025 determines how much capital we can distribute when switching to the new pension plan. In the first months of 2026, we will be working on converting all pensions from the old to the new pension plan. This applies to both everyone who already receives a pension and to those who will receive a pension in the future. Therefore, changes may take longer to be processed.
The distribution of assets to personal pension assets is carried out according to a number of predetermined rules. You have already been able to read these in the Transition Plan of social partners.
Required % of the funding ratio | Distribution rules |
100% | Allocation of personal assets for pension, at least equal to the pension in the old pension plan |
+ 2% | Legally required reserve |
+ 6% | Financing compensation for abolishing average contribution system |
+ 7.5% | Solidarity reserve |
+ 8% | One-off distribution in proportion to personal capital |
Rest | Remaining assets are divided among all participants according to certain rules |
What does the switch mean for you?
At the end of November 2025, you received a personal letter with a first impression of your pension in the new pension plan.
Do you receive a pension? Then read this post about pension benefits in the first half of 2026 <LINK>.
When you accrue pension, you can see how your personal pension assets grow with the contribution that you and HEINEKEN set aside each month for your pension, the risk premiums we pay for your pension and the costs of administering the pension plan and the return. You can follow the development of your pension on My Pension.
Have you accrued pension with us in the past? Then you no longer pay a premium. Your personal pension assets will still be invested by us and will move in line with the results of the investments. You can follow the development of your pension on My Pension.
Pensions now move in line with the results of the investments
From now on, your personal pension assets will move in line with the results of the investments. The Heineken Pension Fund invests your personal pension assets. We hope that investing will yield returns. If there is a positive return in a certain month, this return will be added to your pension capital. However, the return can also be negative at times. Then there is a reduction in your pension capital.
Are you retired? Then the amount of the pension benefit will be adjusted once a year. The board determines the amount of the pension on the basis of the average results of the investments over a whole year. In addition, we spread investment returns over three years, so that pension benefits remain as stable as possible. To prevent large fluctuations, there is a reserve. With this reserve, we also try to prevent decreases in pensions.
Change in partner's and orphan's pension
As long as you work for HEINEKEN and accrue pension with us, there is a partner's pension for your partner. This amounts to 35% of your salary. There is also a monthly benefit for your children up to the age of 25 when you die. As long as you accrue pension with us, your child will receive an orphan's pension until he/she is 25 years old. The amount of this orphan's pension is 20% of the salary.
If you die while you are retired, the amount of the partner's pension will be a maximum of 70% of the retirement pension, unless it has been decided upon retirement to exchange partner's pension for a higher retirement pension. An orphan's pension is paid to children under the age of 25.
Partner's and orphan's pension accrued in the past will be retained
Accrued partner's and orphan's pension will be retained and will be transferred to the new pension plan. This means that the amount of the partner's pension or orphan's pension moves in line with the results of the investments. If you leave employment, your partner/children will no longer be entitled to a survivor's pension – except for the part accrued in the old pension plan.
Partner's and orphan's pension if you leave employment
If you leave employment, the insurance for the partner's pension of the new plan will stop after a maximum of three months. Unless you have an unemployment benefit or a sickness benefit for a longer period of time. If you leave employment, it is possible to continue to insure the partner's pension afterwards. You do pay the premium for this yourself, from your pension capital.
More information about partner's and orphan's pension and the new pension plan
Also watch the webinar for more information about survivor's pension and the new pension plan or read the article about partner's and orphan's pension in the series 'The new pension plan explained'.
What information can you expect from us?
In April/May of 2026, we will send everyone a letter confirming their pension in the new pension plan.
Our website and newsletter will keep you informed of all developments regarding your pension. And contact us if you have any questions via pensioenfonds@heineken.nl or call 020 523 93 93 during office hours.
Also watch the webinar for more information about survivor's pension in the new pension plan or read the article about partner's and orphan's pension in the series 'The new pension plan explained'.
What information can you expect from us?
In April/May of 2026, we will send everyone a letter confirming their pension in the new pension plan.
Our website and newsletter will keep you informed of all developments regarding your pension. And contact us if you have any questions via pensioenfonds@heineken.nl or call 020 523 93 93 during office hours.