The senate on Tuesday voted in favour of raising the Dutch state pension age faster than originally planned, with people working until they reach 67 by 2021 instead of by 2023.

Raising the pension age from 65 to 67 was agreed in 2012. Since then, it has risen one month each year, meaning people retiring now are 65 years and three months old.

However, the government wants the pension age to rise faster because life expectancy is increasing more quickly than expected. Parliament voted for the faster rise in March and the senate has now approved the move.

By 2021, people will be working until they reach 67. In that year, the pension age will be coupled to life expectancy. According to the central statistics agency CBS, this means people could be 71.5 by the time they retire in 2030.