Insurance

Liability insurance (AVP)

In the Netherlands, you are legally liable if someone suffers damage through a mistake or accident caused by you. That means you must compensate the other person for the damage suffered. Personal liability insurance(aansprakelijkheidsverzekering, AVP) protects you against this.

This AVP covers almost all damage for which you, as a private individual, can be held liable, regardless of how the incident in question occurred. The cost of damages can be quite considerable.

An AVP will also cover damage your child or pet might cause. Damage caused by motor vehicles, for example through a collision, is not covered by the AVP. For this, you must take out third-party insurance (WA-verzekering).

For a comparison of insurances and prices, consult the following website: Insuranceen Vergelijk.nl (only in Dutch).

House Contents insurance (Inboedelverzekering)

Fire and theft can cause unforeseen damage and expense. Fortunately, you can insure yourself against them. In some larger cities, you will always have an excess or deductible (eigen risico) for theft. There is also a maximum insurance payout for audio-visual equipment such TVs or DVDs.

It is important to make sure you have proper coverage. Your house contents must be insured at replacement value. If your cover is too low, the insurer will pay out less, even for minor damage. This will mean that the money is insufficient to replace old articles with new.

For more information on where you can take out contents insurance, check the following website (only in Dutch): Independer.nl

Funeral insurance (Uitvaartverzekering)

If you die in the Netherlands, your next of kin will have to bear the expense of your funeral or cremation. To avoid the burden on them, you can take out funeral insurance. Whether you need funeral insurance will depend on your circumstances. In some cases, an employer or benefits agency will pay out death benefit to the next of kin.

For more information on funeral insurance in the Netherlands, check Uitvaart Insurance.nl (only in Dutch).

Other insurances

For medical and dental insurance, go to Family & Health.
For car insurance, go to Transportation.