Thursday 21 / May / 2026
Amsterdam— A delegation from the Social Protection Fund (SPF) has conducted an exploratory visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This visit aligns with the Fund’s commitment to studying leading international experiences and adopting global best practices to advance the social protection system and ensure its long-term sustainability.
The delegation was headed by Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Social Protection Fund.
The visit’s agenda included meetings and discussions with several prominent Dutch institutions specializing in pensions, social protection, and labour market policies. Key among these were the Dutch Federation of Pension Funds, the Employee Insurance Agency, the Social Insurance Bank, and the Dutch Central Bank, as well as the Statistical Authority and the Social and Economic Council.
The Chairman of the Board, along with the accompanying delegation, held a meeting with Thierry Aartsen. During this meeting, they reviewed the legislative and regulatory framework governing the pension and social protection system in the Netherlands, discussed its developmental trajectory, and examined key policies related to labour market dynamics and financial sustainability.
The visit underscored the importance of knowledge exchange and learning from advanced international models. The delegation examined the Dutch experience, which spans over 125 years in the field of social protection. This offers the Social Protection Fund significant opportunities to draw insights that can be adapted to the unique characteristics of Omani society and the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040, ultimately contributing to the creation of a more comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable social protection system.
It is worth noting that the Dutch pension system recently topped the Mercer Global Pension Index, securing first place globally—a testament to the efficiency and leadership of the Dutch model in this field.
