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Business buildings insurance (opstalverzekering): which version suits your premises
Commercial buildings insurance is not a fixed package but a series of choices: which perils, which sections and which excess. This page sets out the variants and their limits.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
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- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
This page in another language: Nederlands
Work out for yourself what it would cost.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your activities
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
Buildings cover has three levels at its core. Fire covers fire, explosion, lightning and aircraft. Extended adds storm, rainfall, water from pipes, burglary, vandalism and impact: a list of named perils. Comprehensive or extended-plus turns the question round: all sudden and unforeseen damage is covered, except what appears in the exclusions. That last variant is not available for every building and depends on the construction and use.
Separate from these are the sections with the greatest financial impact: business interruption for your own loss of turnover, loss of rent if you let the premises, and glass, which is rarely included as standard for commercial premises. Similarly, owner's interest and tenant's improvements are separate concepts: the first belongs to the owner, the second to the occupier who has installed things themselves.
Whichever variant you choose, the basis stays the same: the business activity on the policy must match the actual use of the premises. Premises insured as an office but serving as a workshop lead to a dispute even on a comprehensive policy, under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. See also business buildings insurance.
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The three variants side by side
Each variant builds on the previous one. You choose the additional sections separately.
Extended
Named perils: the standard for most business premises.
- Storm, hail and rainfall
- Water from pipes
- Burglary and vandalism
- Collision and falling trees
Comprehensive
All sudden and unforeseen damage, except what is excluded.
- Inherent defect and mishaps as well
- The burden of proof lies differently
- Not for every type of construction
- Higher premium and excess
What is covered
| Situation | Fire | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| Fire and explosion | Yes | Yes |
| Storm damage to the roof | No | Yes |
| Water from a burst pipe | No | Yes |
| Vandalism after forced entry | No | Provided that |
| Loss of rent or business interruption | No | Provided that |
| Subsidence and foundation damage | No | No |
The names of the variants differ by insurer. What governs is the list of covered perils and exclusions in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart).
What does your premium depend on?
- Cover option chosen: fire, extended or comprehensive
- Business activity and use: determines whether comprehensive is possible
- Rebuild value: the basis of calculation
- Construction type and roof covering: brick, steel or combustible panels
- Additional sections: business interruption, loss of rent, glass
- Excess: different for each section
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Why arrange it through Finass Verzekert?
We look at the terms as well as the premium, and stay your point of contact when there is a claim.
Independent
We are not tied to one insurer and compare on the basis of an objective analysis of several companies.
One fixed adviser
You call or email someone who knows your file. No menu options, no changing call centres.
Switching without hassle
We cancel your old policy and align the start date, so you are never a day without cover.
Help with claims
We report the claim and monitor how it is handled. In urgent cases you can reach us on the emergency line.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
How to choose the right variant
Four considerations that weigh more heavily than the difference in premium between the variants.
Start with the described activities, not with the cover
A wider variant does not repair incorrect policy details. If it says office while in fact there is welding, spraying or storage, the risk has been assessed incorrectly and comprehensive cover does not help you. The duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code applies to every variant, and Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code makes it possible to reduce or refuse payment. So check the description first, and only then choose the type of cover.
The sections determine the loss, not the variant
The difference between extended and comprehensive usually concerns relatively small claims. The real financial risk lies in the consequential loss: business interruption where you cannot produce for months, and loss of rent where a let building is unusable. Both are separate sections. Anyone who chooses wide buildings cover but leaves out the consequential loss insures the small risk well and the large risk not at all. Choose the indemnity period on the basis of a realistic rebuilding period.
What is covered in no variant at all
A comprehensive policy also excludes: subsidence and foundation damage, damage caused by deferred maintenance, wear and gradual influences, and construction and design faults. On top of that, business downtime without separate business interruption cover is not paid and damage caused deliberately or recklessly by the insured is excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. Use that departs from the described activities is an independent ground for refusal. Earthquake, flood and civil commotion almost always have their own arrangement.
Vacancy restricts every variant
As soon as a building or part of it becomes empty, cover falls back with virtually all insurers to fire, storm and explosion, whichever variant you had chosen. Glass, water and vandalism cover then usually lapse. Vacancy is a change in the risk that you must report in advance, even for a short period between two tenants or during conversion work. Reporting it afterwards almost always leads to a reduction in payment when you claim.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Is comprehensive always the best choice?
Not automatically. Comprehensive cover covers more types of damage, but carries a higher premium and often a higher excess, and the main exclusions remain identical. For a simple, well-maintained building the wider cover adds little. The money is then usually better spent on a longer indemnity period for business interruption or on a correct sum insured.
What does the difference in the burden of proof mean?
With named perils cover you have to show that the damage arose from one of the causes listed. With comprehensive cover, all sudden and unforeseen damage is covered in principle and the insurer has to show that an exclusion applies. That difference matters above all in claims where the cause is hard to establish afterwards.
Can I add glass separately?
Yes, for commercial premises glass is nearly always a separate section with its own premium and excess. Large facade frontages and shop windows present a different risk from glass in a house. Extra restrictions apply within that section: breakage during conversion work, damage to lettering, film and etching and glass in greenhouses are usually excluded.
As a tenant, do I insure the building too?
No. The building belongs to the owner. As a tenant you insure your contents and goods and, in addition, your tenant's improvements: the fittings you have installed yourself, such as partition walls, floor finishes, a kitchenette or extra electrics. Check what the lease says about this, so that no gap arises between the two policies.
Can I switch to a wider variant later?
Usually you can, but it is not an administrative formality. The insurer reassesses the risk and can impose additional requirements on construction, state of repair and prevention. Losses that arose before the change or were already known do not fall under the new cover. So preferably combine an extension with the renewal date.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) and commercial buildings insurance (gebouwenverzekering): the same or not?The main page
- Buildings and premises insurance for propertyRebuild value, loss of rent, glass
- Commercial buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) when letting your premisesLoss of rent, vacancy, tenant's improvements
- Business buildings insurance (opstalverzekering): effective protection for your business premisesPrevention, rebuild value, exclusions
- Buildings insurance for businesses through De VereendeRefusal, limited cover, clauses
- Compare commercial buildings insuranceRebuild value, construction, fire prevention
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) for an industrial unitRebuild value, construction, prevention requirements
- Buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) for let homesLet home, types of cover, loss of rent
Read more
Which variant suits your premises?
Request a quote without obligation. We set fire, extended and comprehensive cover side by side with the sections that go with them.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was compiled by Finass Verzekert (LinkedIn). Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.