House Insurance In The Netherlands

House insurance in The Netherlands: Home insurance in the Netherlands is valuable regardless of whether you are buying or renting a property in the country. This can help protect the home from ugly surprises like flood damage, break-ins, or accidents.

Introduction to Home Insurance in the Netherlands

House Insurance Netherlands is generally divided into three distinct categories:

Contents insurance, which covers all movable property in your home, including furniture, clothing, and appliances

Building insurance, also known as homeowners insurance, protects certain structures including walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs.

Liability insurance, which insures against costs incurred by third parties if they injure themselves or damage their property in your home.

Although you can buy this type of home insurance individually, many Dutch insurance companies sell it as a combined home insurance package to cover all risks in your home.

No home insurance is compulsory in the Netherlands. However, if you take out a Dutch mortgage, you will usually need at least a minimum of building insurance.

Home Insurance Company in the Netherlands

As of 2016, there are 123 insurers in the Netherlands that provide home insurance. Most belong to the Dutch Association of Insurance Companies. Some of the main providers include:

  • Aegon
  • HEMA Verzekeringen
  • shared
  • Lemonade
  • Centraal Beheer
  • Gitzo
  • FBTO

How to choose your home insurance in the Netherlands

When researching companies and looking for policies, ask yourself a few questions to make sure you choose the coverage that best fits your needs. Questions may include:

  • What is not included in a basic policy and how much does it cost to add it?
  • What joint policies are offered and how much will you save?
  • Can you sign up, file a claim, submit documents and contact the company online or via mobile app?
  • What are the cancellation policy and procedures?
  • Do you have to pay deductibles? How much will it save on your premiums?
  • Does the company offer any incentives, such as discounts on other products?
  • How is customer feedback? It’s worth checking it out on review sites.

Is it an ethical company with a good record on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? This is something that is becoming increasingly important to today’s consumers.

You can check a company’s rating with a tool like CSR Hub or check the listing on the Dutch Sustainable Brand Index.

Can you use House Insurance Netherlands from another country?

As the Netherlands is a European Union (EU) country, any insurance company located within the European Union/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) can establish itself there as long as they comply with EU regulations.

There are also many other global insurance companies that do business in the Netherlands. If you have an insurance policy with an insurer licensed to do business in the Netherlands, you should be able to transfer a home insurance policy without any problems.

However, you cannot transfer most standard policies on the same terms. Your provider will want to recalculate your premium based on your new property and location.

There may also be administrative fees. Check your policy to see what happens if you move to another country.

It is possible to use a home contents insurance policy from abroad under the same conditions if you have a top-tier plan that includes coverage for goods taken abroad. Again, check your policy terms for details.

Home insurance in the Netherlands

Most insurance companies in the Netherlands sell individual home contents insurance, which is great if you rent your home and only want to insure your personal possessions.

You can usually purchase additional coverage to cover earthquake damage or loss/damage caused by negligence (for example, leaving a faucet on or a door open). However, you cannot cover willful damage or normal wear and tear.

Contents insurance protects all your moveables, including furniture, clothing, jewelry, and electronic equipment. Some policies also cover carpets.

You may need additional or separate coverage for expensive artwork or ornaments, items stored in the garden or shed, or anything that moves out of the house. Policies will not cover fixed structures, for example, windows or fitted units

Property Insurance in the Netherlands

Property insurance comes under different names in the Netherlands, including building insurance, homeowners insurance, or sometimes just home insurance. Basically, it is covering for fixed premises rather than movable elements.

You can buy property insurance in the Netherlands on its own or by including contents and/or liability insurance. Building insurance is not a legal requirement, but most Dutch mortgage providers make it a minimum insurance requirement at think. Question

Standard policies cover certain attachments such as walls, roofs, floors, solar panels, and garages. You may have to pay extra to cover glass fittings (eg windows), heating or air-con systems, swimming pools, sheds, and greenhouses.

These policies provide similar cover to contents insurance, so you’re protected against fire damage, storm damage, water damage, and vandalism during breaks.

You can usually pay extra for earthquakes and other natural disasters and incidents caused by negligence (for example, leaving windows open during a heavy storm or overloaded electrical sockets).

Policies will pay the minimum amount for repair costs. If a disaster strikes and your home is completely destroyed, most good policies will cover the cost of rebuilding.

Liability Insurance in the Netherlands

Liability insurance is very popular in the Netherlands. It insures against accidents that cause third-party damage or injury to your home as well as damage to your property. However, it generally excludes accidents that occur at work.

Coverage extends to third parties only, so you and your family members are not protected. You can purchase extended plans that also cover damage caused by pets, children, or bicycles. However, you cannot include motor vehicle accidents.

It comes under separate car insurance. You will not be able to get coverage for incidents caused by willful damage or gross negligence.

Policies usually provide for repair costs and medical expenses. Some policies also cover third-party legal fees and funeral expenses in case of fatal accidents. You can choose your maximum coverage amount.

Combined home insurance in the Netherlands

In addition to selling individual products, many companies offer customers the opportunity to save money by purchasing an all-in-one policy that includes building insurance, contents insurance, and liability insurance. This usually works out cheaper than individual policies.

You can also usually purchase different types of joint insurance, for example, joint contents and liability insurance if you’re renting and don’t need building insurance. or combined buildings and contents if you already have personal liability insurance.

Holiday Home Insurance in the Netherlands

If you have a holiday home or second home in the Netherlands, it is likely that it will not be covered by standard home insurance and you will need to take out additional coverage.

Most Dutch insurance companies offer specialist holiday home insurance to cover properties against a range of risks, including building damage, material loss/damage, loss of rental income, and public liability. You can also contact a specialist holiday home provider in the UK such as Intasure.

If you are renting accommodation while on holiday, you should add out-of-home coverage to your insurance policy to protect your belongings from loss or theft during any holiday stay.

Applying for House Insurance Netherlands

Getting home insurance in the Netherlands is fairly straightforward. Most major companies allow you to complete your application and submit all required information online. Other ways to apply include by phone or, if the insurer has a high-street outlet, in person.

The application process usually requires you to provide the necessary information (value of property and materials, personal circumstances, level of coverage desired, etc.) to calculate your premium.

  • address
  • valid ids such as a passport or BSN
  • bank details

If you apply online, your insurance policy and claim process details should be available electronically within 24 hours. Mailed documents usually arrive within a few business days.

The renewal process may vary from company to company, so you should check the renewal or cancellation process and duration. This information should be included in the primary policy information document.

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