2. Personnel expenses (in millions of euros)20162015Wages and salaries1,4671,409Social security contributions215175Contributions to defined contributions plans9052Contributions to defined benefit plans4144Other staff costs7569Staff hired 151124Total2,0391,873The average staffing level (in fte) was:(in fte)20162015Netherlands19,88619,411UK10,1688,828Germany891509Total30,94528,748The increase in the average staffing level in the United Kingdom is in particular the result of the ScotRail concession, which started up per 1 April 2015.Remuneration of Executive Board members(in euro's)Fixed salaryAlternative for the gap on pension accrualVarious allowancesPension expensesTermination benefits (excluding compensation legal costs)Total 2015R.H.L.M. van Boxtel179,16716,5002,4752,354- 200,496E.M. Robbe**434,54161,4089,66410,146- 515,759T. Huges***215,00023,10013,6192,824175,583430,126total 828,708101,00825,75815,324175,5831,146,381 (in euro's)Fixed salaryAlternative for the gap on pension accrualVarious allowancesPension expensesTermination benefits (excluding compensation legal costs)Total 2016R.H.L.M. van Boxtel438,60040,4504,36814,171- 497,588H.L.L. Groenewegen*101,2898,5715,9154,169- 119,943M.E.F. Rintel*157,66714,4483,2786,495- 181,887S.M. Zijderveld*315,33326,67318,41412,990- 373,410E.M. Robbe**176,92226,25125,1765,904- 234,254total 1,189,811116,39357,15143,728- 1,407,083*Mr. Groenewegen has been appointed to the Board by September 15, 2016, Ms. Rintel by July 15, 2016 (the pay is included for the period prior to this date in the table remuneration to key management personnel) and Ms. Zijderveld by February 1, 2016.**As of June 1, 2016 Mr. Robbe left the company.***Mr Huges’ employment contract was terminated with legal effect as of 10 July 2015. Mr Huges waived the dismissal compensation of one year’s salary that he would have been entitled to claim under the terms of his employment contract. Mr Huges has voluntarily paid back his variable remuneration of €75,250 received for 2014. The net result is that NS has paid Mr Huges a sum of €175,583 to settle the termination of his employment. In addition, Mr Huges received remuneration for costs relating to his legal assistance in the matter of the termination of his contract of employment, amounting to €65,000.Mr A. P. Schouws has been hired as statutory director (Director of Finance) for the period from April 18, 2016 until September 15, 2016. For this he received a management fee of EUR 176 515.For further details, reference is made to the remuneration policy for the Executive Board to chapter Remuneration of the Board of Directors in the Annual ReportRemuneration to key management personnel (excluding the Executive Board)(in euro’s)Fixed and variabel remunerationPension expensesTermination benefits (excluding compensation legal expenses)Total20151,994,32333,894249,8022,278,01920163,013,445168,129565,9563,747,530In 2016, the group key management has been expanded with IT Director, HR Director and two directors of Abellio. In 2016 the Group two key managers left through a settlement agreement. This has led to the payment of termination benefits.Remuneration Supervisory BoardThe remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board for 2016 paid by the company totalled €173,716. In 2015, the remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board paid by the company was €188.965. The remuneration comprises a fixed fee and an allowance for participating in one or more committees. The specification of the amounts for each member of the Supervisory Board is as follows:(in euro’s)20162015G. van de Aast37,92332,519Chairman Supervisory Board (since August 16, 2016), member auditcommittee, member remuneration and nomination committees J.J.M. Kremers 34,99434,900Chairman audit committee P. Rosenmöller36,98032,804Chairman remuneration and nomination committees, vice chairman Supervisory Board (since August 16, 2016) M.E. van Lier Lels 25,942- (Since February 3, 2016) J.L. Stuijt 11,379- (Since August 15, 2016) T.M. Lodder16,75039,916Chairman Supervisory Board until June 2, 2016, member remuneration and nomination committees I.M.G. Jankovich 9,74829,900(until April 28, 2016) C.J. van den Driest - 18,926(until June 24, 2015) Total173,716188,965The company has not extended any loans, advances or guarantees to members of the Executive Board or the Supervisory Board.All the shares of NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen are held by the State of the Netherlands. Members of the Executive and Supervisory Boards and staff members have not been granted rights to hold or acquire shares in the company.