Some 68% of the population think it necessary to reform the current pension system because it is becoming too expensive to maintain, according to a new poll by Maurice de Hond.

And 62% would rather have the new deal thrashed out between ministers, unions and employers if the system has to be changed at all, the poll showed.
The poll was carried out on behalf of the FNV trade union federation which is embroiled in a bitter struggle about support for the reforms.
The federation’s leadership supports the changes, which will increase the retirement age from 65 to at least 66 by 2020 and make company pensions more dependent on stock exchange developments.
But several individual unions are opposed, including the biggest one, the general workers union Bondgenoten.

Guarantees
Those polled said they consider guarantees about the size of their pensions are crucial, followed by pension increases in line with inflation.
In addition, one third said they wanted to save for additional pensions themselves, rather than contribute to a corporate plan.
But younger workers are keener to go it alone, with 50% of the under 30s saying they would opt out of collective pension schemes.