On a German pitch it comes down to two things that rarely arise in the Netherlands: the snow load on a lightweight roof, and the duty to keep your own pitch safe to walk on.
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In brief
German campsites are often in hill country and low mountain ranges. The roof of a chalet or static caravan is lightly built and can carry snow there for weeks on end. Snow load is part of the storm and hail cover in almost no policy. German buildings policies place it in a separate module for natural perils, and Dutch policies by no means always mention it. If it is not stated in so many words, it is not covered, however obvious the risk may seem.
Also, under German law anyone using a plot has a duty of care to keep that plot safe: clearing snow, dealing with ice, removing loose branches and roof panels. If a visitor slips on the path to your chalet, that liability is judged under German law and not through Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code. Your liability cover must include Germany in its territorial scope and name the pitch by address.
Not covered are: permanent occupation, letting you have not declared, frost damage after you failed to drain the water, and damage traceable to deferred maintenance on the roof or roof covering. For a unit on a Belgian or Dutch campsite, other points apply.
Chalet or static caravan in Germany: what is covered?
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Through the towing vehicle
Liability
Damage you cause to others with the trailer.
Covered while coupled
Under the car's third-party liability cover
Uncoupled: no longer covered
The object itself
Third-party, fire and theft
External causes beyond your control.
Fire and storm
Theft after forced entry
Hail, depending on the policy
Full
Comprehensive
Including damage you cause yourself.
Collision and manoeuvring
Vandalism
Contents as a separate section
What is covered
Situation
Third-party, fire and theft
Comprehensive
Theft after forced entry, with the prescribed lock
Yes
Yes
Fire and storm damage on the pitch
Yes
Yes
Hail damage to roof and walls
Provided that
Yes
Collision damage while manoeuvring
No
Yes
Contents in the caravan or trailer
Provided that
Provided that
Damp, wear and deferred maintenance
No
No
A trailer or caravan is not an independent motor vehicle and therefore has no insurance requirement of its own. Damage you cause to others with it falls under the third-party liability cover of the towing vehicle, as long as the combination is coupled (Article 2 WAM). Once the trailer is uncoupled and has come to a standstill, that cover no longer applies.
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.
Snow load must be a named peril in the policy
Ask literally whether snow load, avalanche and the resulting consequential damage are insured, and under which section. Watch for a second provision: many policy conditions require you to have the roof cleared during prolonged heavy snowfall. If you do not and the structure gives way, the insurer can argue that you did too little to prevent the damage. So agree in advance who clears the roof when you are not there in winter, and record that arrangement.
The duty of care for your own pitch
Under German law the user of a plot must keep it safe to walk on. In practice that means clearing snow and gritting the path to your chalet, and removing branches that could fall. If a visitor is injured as a result, they will come to you personally. Check that your liability insurance covers Germany, that the pitch is named in it, and that the cover also applies when you have contracted the winter jobs out to someone else.
Gas inspection and the park's connection requirements
Where there is a gas connection, German operators usually require a valid inspection certificate for the installation, which has to be renewed periodically. Without one, you may not connect. More important for the cover: damage caused by a gas installation that has not been inspected, or that you have altered yourself, is regularly refused in the event of fire or explosion. The same applies to alterations you make to the electrical connection yourself. Keep inspection certificates and the fitter's invoices with the policy.
An annual pitch, but months standing empty
Many German parks let the pitch by the year while you are there for only a few weeks. What counts for the insurer is not the form of contract but the period during which the unit is unattended. The winter clauses follow from that: draining the water, leaving taps open, maintaining a minimum temperature and having the unit checked periodically. For the contents, a lower sub-limit for theft often applies outside the season. Ask about that limit before you leave appliances, tools or a television behind.
Park rules
Many parks require liability cover. Check what the park requires before you take anything out.
Chalet or static caravan: the classification determines everything
If the property stands on a foundation and cannot be moved without being dismantled, it is treated as a building and insured on a rebuild value basis. A movable static caravan falls under caravan-type cover based on the list price. If that classification does not match reality, neither does the valuation: and you only find out when the property is a total loss.
Region and altitude. Low mountain ranges mean structurally more snow load each winter than a park in the flat north.
Roof construction and year of build. Roof pitch, material and age determine how much snow load the unit can take before damage occurs.
Natural perils module chosen. Whether snow load and other natural perils are insured as named perils or fall outside the policy.
Type of pitch and months standing empty. An annual pitch used for a few weeks means a longer unattended period than a seasonal pitch.
Installations on the pitch. A gas connection, a stove or wood burner and the presence of valid inspection certificates all count towards the fire risk.
Liability cover with German territorial scope. Whether the pitch is insured by address for injury to visitors and damage to neighbouring units.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
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You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
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No, usually it does not. Storm and hail are separately named perils. The load of snow lying for weeks is not among them and sits in a separate module for natural perils. Ask for written confirmation that snow load is insured, and read whether there is an obligation to have the roof cleared during heavy snowfall.
Who is liable if a visitor slips on my pitch?
Under German law the user of the plot has a duty to keep paths safe to walk on. Clearing snow and gritting are therefore your responsibility, even when you are not there yourself. Article 6:174 of the Dutch Civil Code plays no part in this. Make sure your liability cover includes Germany and that the address of the pitch is stated on the policy schedule.
My roof collapses and damages the caravan next door. Who pays for that?
Those are two separate questions. The damage to your own unit falls under the buildings or own-damage cover, and only if snow load is a named peril there. The damage to the neighbours runs through your liability cover, where the question is whether you should have had the roof cleared. Without both covers, you carry one of the two items yourself.
What documents does a German park ask for?
Usually confirmation of cover from your liability insurer with the address of the pitch on it, and, where there is a gas connection, a valid inspection certificate for the installation. Ask for the pitch contract and the park rules before the season, so that you know which documents need to be ready and by when the operator wants to receive them.
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.
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