The Dutch District Court of Central Netherlands (Rechtbank Midden-Nederland) has ruled in favour of Pensioenfonds PostNL and Pensioenfonds KPN in a dispute over PTT-era pensions.

PTT was the Dutch state-owned national monopoly responsible for postal, telegraph, and telephone services from 1928 until its privatisation in 1989.

After its privatisation in 1989, PTT’s pension liabilities were transferred from the civil service scheme ABP to Pensioenfonds PostNL and Pensioenfonds KPN, with certain accrued rights and supplements carried over under transitional arrangements.

The case was brought by three former PTT employees, supported by broadcaster Omroep Max, who argued that their pensions had been incorrectly calculated following this transfer.

They questioned the application of the ‘concurrent benefits allowance’ – a historical ABP supplement – and transitional provisions relating to married women, which reflected differences in state pension entitlements before reforms in the 1980s.

The claimants contended that these elements had not been properly accounted for, resulting in lower pension payments than they believed they were entitled to receive.

They therefore sought clarification and, if applicable, additional payments.

However, on 1 April 2026 the court found that Pensioenfonds PostNL and Pensioenfonds KPN had correctly applied the relevant legislation and scheme rules when calculating the pensions.

It concluded that the claimants will receive the benefits to which they are entitled and are not eligible for any additional payments.

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