Three APG pension fund clients have begun transitioning to the Netherlands’ new pension system, covering a total of 1.4 million members, including the construction industry pension fund.

APG teams have now taken the first step in transferring participant data to a new administration platform, Festina Life and Pension.

The underlying pension administration technology supporting the transition was provided by Festina Finance.

Commenting on the development, Festina Finance chief technology officer, Jesper Lauritsen, described the migration as a significant operational undertaking.

“Supporting that transition at scale requires resilient technology, accurate data and the ability to manage complexity without disrupting member outcomes,” he said.

Lauritsen added that delivering reform at this magnitude required proven systems, deep operational expertise, confidence in the supporting technology, and the capability to manage complex benefit structures, regulatory change, large-scale data migration and member communications at pace.

He added that the Dutch experience demonstrated that large-scale pension reform was achievable when supported by robust digital infrastructure, real-time data integrity and flexible system architecture and operating models.

“These are not capabilities that can be bolted on at the last minute; they must be built in from the start,” he stressed.

Echoing this, Festina Finance UK country head, Dan McLaughlin, said the project demonstrated that digital transformation at scale was no longer theoretical.

“The technology already exists and is being proven in Europe’s largest pensions markets, showing how large ecosystems can modernise successfully when preparation, governance, and modern technology come together,” he stated.

McLaughlin suggested the developments in the Netherlands could offer lessons for other markets, including the UK, arguing that strong digital foundations allowed policymakers to focus on reform design while enabling pension providers to prioritise strategy rather than system constraints.

“With foundations now firmly in place, there is a great opportunity for the UK to move from discussion to delivery – supporting meaningful reform and outcomes that genuinely improve the member experience,” he added.

---