Copy MAAIKE OLDE OLTHOF Photography MARTIN DIJKSTRA | 4 minutes
The funny thing is, even at 49, I still associate the word ‘retirement’ with my parents. They belong to that baby boomer generation who worked their socks off for decades, all in the hope of finally being able to put their feet up after turning 65. The dream? A golden retirement—soaking up the winter sun in Benidorm at Christmas or finally ticking off that round-the-world trip with their equally retired other half. Living life to the fullest, right up until the inevitable. For whole generations, that kind of retirement was the light at the end of a long, hardworking tunnel.
The simple truth is a huge number of boomers never even made it to retirement. Many had quite literally worked themselves into the ground or passed away not long after retiring (like my uncles). Seeing that happen made me realise, even in my twenties, that I didn’t want to spend my life grinding away in a job that drained me. I needed work that felt fun—something I’d enjoy doing every day, rather than just endure. Back then, retirement wasn’t even on my radar. I didn’t feel any urgency and to be honest, it all seemed a bit like a pipe dream. Maybe, like my uncles, I’d never even make it that far. Who knows? I could be six feet under before I hit 60—or a millionaire by 40. You never really know how life turns out, do you?
I’ll admit, I used to live day by day, never looking too far ahead—or back, for that matter. That all changed when I had children, went through a divorce, and had to face an undeniable truth: I was getting older, and my financial responsibilities were piling up. Luckily, I’d found work that didn’t feel like a chore. Writing has always been more than just a job to me—it’s something I’m truly devoted to. So, the real question is, will I ever actually stop? As long as my brain works and my fingers can type, I see no reason to put my pen down.
Pension was never a hot topic in my salary negotiations. In fact, I can’t even remember them ever coming up in a job interview. And that’s a shame. Why is it such a neglected subject? Is it because no one likes thinking about getting older? Especially now, with so many changes to the pension system, it’s more important than ever to start paying attention.
At the end of the day, it’s not that complicated. To make things easier for the average person (like myself), you can check mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl to see how much pension you’ve accrued so far. And if you enter your date of birth, you’ll also find out your expected state pension age—mine, at the moment is 68. According to the calculations, I’ll receive my first state pension in mid-2043. That might sound like a lifetime away, but trust me, time flies—I’ve learned that the hard way. By then, my eldest daughter will be 34, and I’ll make sure her pension is securely arranged well before she reaches my age. Luckily, I can still count on my skills and my work. And since I blend business with pleasure, I already get to put my feet up every now and then.
Want to know what you have accrued in pension?
Maaike Olde Olthof is a writer and columnist at LINDA.nl. She is author of 'Wat een Scheidboek'. Messy co-parenting and being a forty-something single provide enough inspiration for a novel or two. She also has two teenage daughters at home, a glaring dislike for household chores and, perhaps, a wish to get her finances in better order than they are now. What about her retirement? And what does the arrival of the new pension mean?
