Arranging your insurances in the Netherlands

A few insurances, such as basic health insurance, are mandatory in the Netherlands. Others are not mandatory, but advisable to take out. Here’s an overview of the different insurances in the Netherlands.

There are several types of insurance and many insurance companies. You might want to compare all insurers. You can do this on the website of Independer.

Healthcare insurance (zorgverzekering): compulsory

Dutch healthcare is rated among the best in Europe. It’s managed by the Dutch government and therefore accessible to everyone. The system is based on social solidarity; everyone contributes to the overall cost of healthcare for everyone. The government decides what is covered in basic health insurance. All insurers offer the same basic health insurance package, but the monthly premium differs per health insurer.

In 2024, the general deductible is € 385,-. Besides paying a monthly premium, you pay the first € 385,- of healthcare costs yourself.

• Basic health insurance
  Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out basic health insurance. Basic health insurance covers the costs of consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment, and medication.
• Additional insurance
  You may opt to take out additional insurance to cover costs not included in your basic health insurance, such as physiotherapy or (extra) dental care. It's not mandatory to take additional insurance.
  
  

Your insurance policy for basic health must be effective within four months after you arrive in the Netherlands. If you neglect to arrange your healthcare insurance, the Central Administration Office (CAK) will register you with an insurer and the costs will be withheld from your salary. If you need medical care, you need to pay the costs yourself.

You can take out basic and additional health insurance from any insurance company. You're free to choose an insurance company yourself. You can compare different insurance companies on the website of Independer (only in Dutch). Good to know: it’s not obligatory to take out both insurances at the same insurance company.

Household contents insurance (inboedelverzekering): not compulsory, but wise

Accidents can always happen. That's why it's wise to take out household contents insurance. With contents insurance, you're insured against damage to the contents and personal belongings in your home. You insure large furniture, but also jewelry, for example.  

If you take out household contents insurance, you're covered against damage caused by fire, burglary and robbery, storm (from wind force 7), flood, and lightning strikes. In case of irreparable damage to your household contents, you will be compensated for the new value (which often is the purchase price). If the current value is less than 40% of the new value, you will usually be paid the current market value. If you go for all-risk coverage, the damage you caused yourself is also covered. For example, if you knock something over or break it.

When taking out household contents insurance, you can include your family in the insurance. You can only co-insure a partner and/or children. Household members must take out their own household contents insurance. The cost of contents insurance depends on the size of your home, your family composition, and where you live. As with taking out health insurance, with household contents insurance you can choose to increase the deductible. This keeps your insurance premium lower.   

Personal liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering): not compulsory, but wise 

This insurance covers the costs if you (or a member of your family) accidentally cause damage to a third party and are held responsible. Some damages are excluded from your insurance and will not be covered, for example in case of intentional damage or if you cause damage to your vehicle. Your liability insurance covers damage that you've caused with your vehicle (WA-verzekering voor motorvoertuig). See below for more about this insurance.

When taking out personal liability insurance, you can choose who is covered. For example, you can also co-insure your partner (and children if you have them). Good to know: you are also insured if you cause damage while on vacation outside the Netherlands.

Term life insurance (overlijdensrisicoverzekering): not always compulsory

Term life insurance is a life insurance that pays a one-off amount if you or your partner dies. Although this insurance is not mandatory, a mortgage lender can oblige it if you want to take out a mortgage when buying a house. If you rent a home, it can be interesting to take out term life insurance as well. In the event of death, the rent must suddenly be paid by only one person. With term life insurance, you ensure that in such a situation money becomes available so that you can handle these costs more easily. 

When you take out term life insurance, you choose the amount you want to be paid out if you should die. You pay premiums for this during the number of years you want to be insured. You can decide how long this term is. If you die during the term of the insurance, the amount you choose will be paid out to your partner (or children). It can be beneficial to compare premiums from different insurers. How high your premium will be depends on your age, income, and smoking habits. If you are not completely healthy, you have a (slightly) higher chance of dying than an average healthy person. In extreme cases, the insurer may even refuse you.

Legal expenses insurance (rechtsbijstandverzekering): not compulsory

As mentioned before, accidents can always happen. Imagine you get into an argument after a traffic accident for which you are held responsible, or you get into a conflict over benefits or with your employer over a dismissal, or if you are a witness in a court case. That's when legal expenses insurance can come in handy. Here you are assured of legal help when you need it. You can opt for basic coverage, or supplement it with multiple coverages. You never know! 

Liability insurance for your vehicle(s) (WA-verzekering voor motorvoertuig): compulsory

If you have a car, it's mandatory to have car insurance in the Netherlands. Liability insurance for your vehicle(s) means that everyone who drives this vehicle is insured. Without liability insurance, you are not allowed on the road and can be fined. Do you drive and cause damage without liability insurance? Then the insurer will recover the damage of an involved person or object (think of a lamppost or guardrail of the municipality) from you.

Good to know: Damage to your car is, in any case, not insured by third-party insurance.

Travel insurance (reisverzekering): not compulsory

Travel insurance is not compulsory. There are two types of travel insurance: short-term (kortlopend) and continuous (doorlopend) travel insurance. Short-term travel insurance is taken out for one vacation. The insurance stops automatically after that. Continuous travel insurance is for the entire year. 

Loss, theft, or damage to your luggage falls under the standard coverage of travel insurance. In addition, you can expand your travel insurance with different coverages. Depending on your vacation and what you have already covered with other insurances, you can expand your travel insurance with coverage for medical expenses, roadside assistance, and winter sports.

Cancellation insurance (annuleringsverzekering): not compulsory

Are you unable to go on vacation unexpectedly? For example, because you are sick, suddenly lose your job, or have to deal with a death in the family? Cancellation insurance reimburses the nonrefundable costs you already made. This insurance is not mandatory to take out, but it is wise. You can not take out cancellation insurance afterward, so it's wise to think about this before you go on holiday. 

Funeral insurance (uitvaartverzekering): not compulsory

With funeral insurance, you insure (part of) the cost of your funeral. This means your relatives won't have to worry about high funeral costs. The monthly cost of funeral insurance increases when you take out funeral insurance later in life. In the Netherlands, funeral insurance is not compulsory.