Home insurance in the Netherlands
Home insurance, also known as "woonhuisverzekering" in Dutch protects homeowners and tenants against unexpected events that could potentially damage or jeopardize their residence.
Which insurances are there for my house?
In the Netherlands you have building insurance ("opstalverzekering") and contents insurance ("inboedelverzekering").
Building insurance provides protection for the physical structure of the property, including the walls, roof, and fixed installations, while contents insurance covers personal belongings within the home, such as furniture, electronics, and valuables.
The Netherlands has a quarter of its land below sea level. Having insurance that covers you against flooding can give you some peace of mind. Additionally, policies may also offer liability coverage, safeguarding homeowners against legal claims arising from injuries or damages that occur on their property.
Understanding the specific risks associated with the Dutch climate and housing market is essential when selecting a home insurance policy.
From urban apartments to traditional canal-side houses, each dwelling has its unique features that require tailored coverage.
As the Dutch housing market continues to evolve, home insurance remains a vital aspect of responsible homeownership. This introduction serves as a starting point for individuals seeking to navigate the nuances of home insurance in the Netherlands, ensuring that their cherished homes are protected against unforeseen events.
What damage does home insurance cover?
What damage does opstalverzekering (building insurance) cover?
With building insurance, you receive compensation for damage to your home or the damage is repaired for you. An overview of the damages that are and are not insured.
Covered
- Damage from fire, precipitation, storm, leakage, burglary, or a collision.
- Damage from an accident.
- Costs for alternative living arrangements in case of damage.
- Cleanup and remediation costs up to €100,000.
- Reconstruction or repair costs.
- Home rental: insured for damage from fire, storm, burglary, theft (after burglary).
What damage does inboedelverzekering (contents insurance) cover?
Your belongings in your home are part of your household contents. By taking out household contents insurance, you insure these belongings against damage from, among other things, fire, lightning, and water. You can supplement your household contents insurance with, for example, mobile electronics or glass breakage coverage. This way, you can find a household contents insurance that suits your situation well. Among other things, the following items are insured:
Covered
- Belongings in the house, such as your furniture, appliances, or clothing
- Cleanup costs after damage
- Costs for alternative living arrangements
- Garden furniture and garden tools
Recommended insurers
Lemonade
Lemonade offers tech-driven insurance built for expats: contents coverage you can get in 90 seconds, entirely online, in English. No Dutch paperwork, no phone trees—just simple protection starting at €5/month.
Centraal Beheer
Centraal Beheer is one of the biggest insurance companies in the Netherlands with insurances for home, car, your bike and much more.
ABN AMRO
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is the third-largest bank in the Netherlands. They also have highly rated insurances and mortgages. If you already have an bank account with them, this is the easiest option to get Home Insurance. Check the website for more information.
FBTO
FBTO is a highly-rated Dutch insurance provider where you can adjust coverage to your needs. They offer insurance for your car, house, legal matters, and much more. Visit the website to get a direct quote.
a.s.r.
ASR Nederland is one of the major insurance groups in the Netherlands, headquartered in Utrecht. Its offerings span non‑life (property & casualty), life insurance, income protection, pensions (individual and group), health and travel insurance, funeral plans, mortgages, and asset management.
Inshared
InShared was founded in 2009 as an online insurer and became one of the most successful insurers in the online market. The go-to market strategy of online differs a lot from the traditional channels, and within this InShared made some clear choices.