The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert.nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out your own premium with the calculator.
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
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Private security, investigation work and supplying the defence sector are licensed activities in which every member of staff is screened and required to carry identification. Insurers accept on the basis of that same regime. If someone works without valid identification or screening, that affects not only your authorisation but also your cover: giving incorrect information when taking out the policy falls under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and deliberately departing from the rules ends up at Article 7:952 DCC.
The actual pattern of loss has two sides. On one side there is injury to a third party after an intervention: an arrest that goes too far, a removal that gets out of hand, a crowding incident at an event. There the key question is proportionality, and deliberately inflicted injury is excluded on every policy, even where you are sued as the employer under Article 6:170 of the Dutch Civil Code. On the other side there is injury to your own people, which rests with you through Article 7:658 DCC.
The third category is the most treacherous. If there is a break-in at a site you were guarding, the client's loss is not property damage you caused but the failure to deliver the result you promised. That is a contractual argument and not an insured liability risk; your terms and conditions determine the outcome here, not your policy.
What does insurance for security and defence cover?
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
The basics
Liability
AVB for property damage and injury, BAV for professional errors.
Damage to third parties
Employers' liability
Care, custody and control as an extension
Your business
Assets and continuity
Business contents, goods and lost turnover during downtime.
Business contents at replacement value as new
Goods at cost price
Business interruption or additional costs
If you employ people
Staff
Sickness absence, accidents and the traffic risk.
Continued pay for 104 weeks
Group personal accident
WEGAS for traffic risks
What is covered
Situation
AVB
BAV
Cyber
Injury to a visitor or customer
Yes
No
No
Damage to a client's property
Sometimes
No
No
Financial loss caused by an advisory or calculation error
No
Yes
No
Downtime after a ransomware attack
No
No
Yes
Data breach involving personal data
No
Sometimes
Yes
Damage to property in your care
No
No
No
This overview is general in nature and is not personal advice. What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) of the insurer; you receive both before you take out cover. Taking out cover without advice? Then read what execution only means for you.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
Monitor identification as a process, not as a task
With dozens of staff, keeping track of passes, screenings and expiring training is no longer a side issue. Record centrally who holds which authorisation and when it expires, and block deployment as soon as a date passes. One member of staff with expired papers at a site can affect your licence , and with it the basis on which the insurer accepted the risk. Apply the same regime in your arrangements with hired-in colleagues and subcontractors.
Intervening calls for a use-of-force file
Where there is injury after an arrest or removal, the action is assessed afterwards for whether it was proportionate . Make sure every situation involving physical intervention is recorded the same day: the trigger, the sequence of events, witnesses, injuries, camera footage and the instruction followed. Without a report your employee's account stands alone against that of the person concerned, and that is the position in which claims are settled rather than contested.
Dogs, weapons and equipment are separate
If you use patrol dogs, the strict liability in Article 6:179 of the Dutch Civil Codeapplies: as the keeper you are liable for what the animal does, even without blame. That deployment has to appear on the policy in so many words, as does the use of batons, handcuffs or other equipment. Damage caused by or to firearms is excluded as standard. Also report the use of drones and cameras, because they bring their own privacy risk.
Territory and client determine the limit
Work in or for conflict areas falls under the civil commotion and war exclusion that appears on virtually every policy, whichever section you turn to. Seconding staff to military clients abroad also calls for separate arrangements on territory, repatriation and personal accident cover. Ask about this before you start, because existing cover does not stretch to fit a new contract in another country.
What does your premium depend on?
Type of activities — Site guarding, mobile patrols, event security, door supervision and private investigation are weighted differently.
Number of employees and payroll — The basis of calculation for both employers' liability and sickness absence, including hired-in workers.
Physical intervention among your duties — Work involving removal, arrest or crowd control carries a considerably higher injury risk.
Use of dogs and equipment — Patrol dogs, drones, camera systems and equipment have to be declared and are assessed separately.
Working area — Work within the Netherlands, elsewhere in Europe or in higher-risk areas determines acceptance and the exclusions.
Alarm centre and control room services — Alarm transmission, response and the management of keys or access devices add a liability risk of their own.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
You request a quoteWe take stock of your activities, turnover 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.
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.
Am I liable if a security officer injures someone?
As a rule yes, towards the injured third party, through Article 6:170 of the Dutch Civil Code, unless the action was proportionate. The assessment turns on the trigger, the degree of force and the instruction followed. Deliberately inflicted injury is excluded on every policy, even where you are sued as the employer. A report drawn up the same day with witnesses and footage is your main defence.
Is the burglary loss at a client I was guarding covered?
Usually not. The client suffers loss because the promised result did not materialise, and that is pure financial loss arising from a contract, not property damage you caused. Your public and employers' liability insurance does not pay for it. What counts here are your terms and conditions and the limitation of liability in them, plus possibly professional indemnity cover for shortcomings in the service.
Do I have to declare the use of a patrol dog?
Yes. As the keeper you carry strict liability under Article 6:179 of the Dutch Civil Code: if the animal bites someone, you are liable without any need to show blame. Insurers assess that deployment separately and normally require a demonstrably trained handler and dog team. Without a mention on the policy a biting incident is not covered, even where the deployment itself was justified.
What happens if a screening or identification has expired?
The member of staff is then working without authority and that affects the basis on which the insurer accepted the risk. Cover can be refused when you claim; giving incorrect information runs into Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and knowingly continuing to work outside the rules into Article 7:952 DCC. Keep authorisations and expiry dates centrally and block deployment automatically, including for hired-in colleagues from another party.
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.
