AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet)

The AOW is the Dutch state pension, a basic old-age pension paid by the government to people who have reached the statutory pension age. It is based on years of living or working in the Netherlands and is separate from any pension built up through an employer. In this context, "AOW" refers to people who receive this state pension, which is the group a Dutch municipality or transport benefit may be tied to.