Introduction

The European population is ageing faster than populations of the other continents. The ageing of the population is a very distinctive demographic event in the European context, considering its unique pace in demographic transition. The available estimates indicate that the elderly population (65+) is expected to increase by 40 million over the next 50 years and those who are in the working age population (15–64) are expected to decline by about 100 million. This process will lead to a decline in the worker–elderly ratio from the current 4:1 to 2:1 by the year 2050 (Economic Policy Committee, 2001). These results highlight the far-reaching transformations in the European population in general and elderly population in particular in the coming years.

This increasing elderly population has already received the attention of planners and policymakers all over the world. The European Commission has played a noteworthy attempt to highlight the issues associated with elderly population in Europe. The tremendous growth of elderly population basically on account of the then post-war baby boom and the resultant child population, has now reached the retirement age. Moreover, fertility has fallen sharply and there has been a considerable increase in the life expectancy of the European population.

Demography of the Elderly

The Netherlands, one of the leading nations in the European Union (EU) is no more an exception to the greying of its population.