Nearly two-thirds of self-employed workers in the Netherlands – known as ‘zzp’ers’ – have expressed a “serious interest” in joining a collective pension scheme, according to a survey by APG subsidiary Loyalis.

The income insurer said 60% of the 3,700 respondents said they were likely to participate in its new scheme, with 10% saying they would definitely join.

The survey was conducted among the members of industry organisations Zelfstandigen Bouw, Stichting ZZP Nederland, PZO-ZZP and FNV Zelfstandigen.

Loyalis said two-thirds of those expressing an interest in the scheme indicated they wanted to contribute a variable amount, depending on their annual turnover.

It added that almost 17% wanted to limit their deposit to the maximum amount liable to tax deduction, while 12% said they preferred to contribute a fixed amount each year.

Zzp’ers who said they would join expected to contribute an annual amount of €4,200 on average, whereas more than one-quarter planned to deposit more than this.

They also wanted to accrue an annual pension income of €31,000 on average through the new scheme, and made clear they wanted to accrue an additional €11,000 on average through other means of pensions saving, according to Loyalis. 

Loyalis said it also found that a “substantial” number of zzp’ers had already built up pension assets, mainly through saving or investing.

Approximately 36% had invested in property – usually their own home or business premises – while almost 30% had created a pensions reserve through an individual pension plan, annuity insurance or a tax-friendly life-course (levensloop) savings scheme.

The collective pensions fund for the self-employed – announced by industry organisations in June – is to be launched on 1 January 2015.

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