The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is raising the alarm over a notable passivity among young pension participants. This emerges from the report ‘Sector in Focus: Pensions 2026’, based on data from pension administrators covering 2024.

Although more than two thirds of participants in defined contribution schemes can make their own investment choices, only a small proportion take up this option. Young people do so least of all — despite having the longest investment horizon and standing to gain the most from an active approach. The AFM is calling on pension administrators to provide better guidance.

The complaints register also warrants attention. Of the 23,000 complaints filed in 2024, the majority concerned pension calculations and payments. Notably, 99 per cent of all complaints came from pension funds, with just 1 per cent from premium pension institutions. The AFM warns that a low number of complaints is not necessarily positive: participants may simply not know how to file one.

Source:  afm.nl/nl-nl/sector/actueel/2026/mei/sb-sector-in-beeld-pensioenen