Why Recreational Home Insurance?
A recreational home insurance protects your holiday home, chalet or mobile home against damage caused by fire, storm, burglary and other risks. Your holiday home is often empty for a long time and is therefore extra vulnerable - a standard home insurance policy often offers this insufficient coverage.
With a special holiday home insurance you are also insured vacancy and you can often co-insure rental. In addition, liability of up to €500,000 is often included as standard - for example if a roof tile from your holiday home falls on your neighbor's car.
The costs for damage to a holiday home can quickly amount to (tens) thousands of euros. Consider clearance costs, rebuilding and replacement of furnishings. With good insurance you can enjoy your second home without any worries.
Which Recreational Homes Do We Insure?
Holiday home
Stone or wooden holiday home at a holiday park or in nature
chalet
Wooden chalet on a permanent location in the Netherlands or abroad
Mobile home
Large caravan that can only be transported by truck
Beach house
Coastal beach cottage with seasonal storage
Garden house
Garden house or log cabin with overnight accommodation
Safari tent
Glamping tent or tent house on a permanent pitch
What is insured?
Fire & Explosion
Damage due to fire, explosion, lightning strike and soot deposits.
Storm & Hail
Damage caused by storms, hail, snow pressure and extreme weather conditions.
Burglary & Theft
Theft after burglary, vandalism and destruction by burglars.
Leakage & Water
Water damage due to leaking pipes, precipitation or flooding.
contents
Furniture, equipment, crockery and other loose items in your home.
liability
Damage to others due to your holiday home, up to €500,000.
🔥 Allrisk vs. Basic coverage
With holiday home insurance you can choose from different levels of cover:
- → Basic coverage: Fire, explosion, lightning, storm, hail, snow pressure
- → Extensive coverage: + Burglary, theft, vandalism, leakage
- → All-risk coverage: + All unforeseen external disasters
- → All-risk extras: Damage from falls, bumps, collisions, accidents
Tip: Choose all-risk for optimal protection - you are therefore insured in the event of sudden, unforeseen events.
🏠 Rental of your recreational home
Do you rent out your holiday home or chalet? This can usually be insured:
- ✓ Private rental: Up to 6 months (or 17 weeks) per year allowed
- ✓ House and contents: Fully insured during rental period
- ✓ Airbnb & platforms: Rental via Airbnb, Booking.com, etc. possible
- ✓ Liability: Guests who cause damage are also covered
- ⚠️ Increased deductible: During rental, a higher deductible often applies
⚠️ More than 300 days of rental per year? Then one business building insurance required.
⏰ Insured when vacant
Your holiday home is often empty for a long time - additional risk of damage and burglary:
- ✓ Long-term vacancy covered: Even if you are not there for months
- ✓ No permanent supervision: This is precisely when insurance is crucial
- ✓ Burglary with signs of forced entry: Theft covered in case of visible forced entry
- ⚠️ Higher deductible: When vacant, often €2,500 instead of €1,000
- ⚠️ Beach house winter storage: Must be stored dry and clean
💡 Tip: Have someone look at your holiday home regularly to prevent damage.
🏗️ Construction type: Influence on your premium
The construction type of your holiday home partly determines the amount of the premium:
🧱 Stone House
Lower premium due to less fire risk. Reconstruction value insured.
🪵 Wooden Chalet
Higher premium due to increased fire risk. Reconstruction value insured.
🚐 Mobile home
Purchase value insured. New value up to 6 years, then current value.
🎪 Safari tent
Additional deductible in case of storm damage. Seasonal coverage.
💰 Premium indication Recreational home insurance
The premium depends on value, construction type, location and coverage:
| Type of property | Value | Premium/month |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile home | €20,000 - €50,000 | €8 - €20 |
| Wooden chalet | €50,000 - €100,000 | €15 - €35 |
| Holiday home stone | €100,000 - €200,000 | €20 - €40 |
| Holiday home premium | €200,000+ | €35 - €60 |
| Add contents | €10,000 - €30,000 | +€5 - €15 |
* Standard deductible €1,000, €2,500 in case of vacancy. All-risk approximately 20% more expensive than basic.
🪵 What determines the premium?
The costs of your holiday home insurance depend on:
- → Reconstruction value: The higher the value, the higher the premium
- → Construction type: Wooden houses are more expensive than stone houses
- → Location: Wooded area or beach can increase premium
- → Coverage: All-risk more expensive than basic coverage
- → Rental: Rental can increase premium
- → Deductible: Higher deductible = lower premium
⚠️ Not Insured: Exclusions
You are usually in the following situations not insured:
- ✗ Permanent residence: Your main residence may not be in the holiday home
- ✗ Poor maintenance: Damage due to overdue maintenance will not be reimbursed
- ✗ Earthquake/flood: Primary flood defense failed, area outside the dike
- ✗ Business use: Use for business purposes
- ✗ Criminal activities: For example, cannabis farm
- ✗ Vandalism tenant: Damage due to vandalism by tenant not covered
🌍 Recreational Home Abroad
Do you have a holiday home abroad? Many insurers offer cover in:
- ✓ The Netherlands: All locations in the Netherlands
- ✓ Belgium & Germany: Within 100 km of the Dutch border
- ✓ Western Europe: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria
- ✓ Other: Luxembourg, Monaco, Ireland, United Kingdom
NB: A tailor-made quotation is required for holiday homes outside these countries.
Recreational home insurers
We compare the best holiday home insurers:
💡 Tips for Your Recreational Home Insurance
- ✓ Compare multiple insurers: Premiums and conditions vary greatly
- ✓ Choose the correct reconstruction value: Avoid under- or over-insurance
- ✓ Include furniture: Your belongings are also covered
- ✓ Check rental conditions: How many days can you rent out?
- ✓ Secure well: Certified locks, motion sensors
- ✓ Regular maintenance: Damage due to poor maintenance not covered
- ✓ Prepare for winter: Prevent frost damage to pipes
- ✓ Have it checked regularly: Prevent long-term unnoticed damage
📊 Home insurance vs. Recreational home insurance
| Feature | Normal Building | Recreational home |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy covered | ✗ Often not | ✓ Yes |
| co-insure rental | ✗ Usually not | ✓ Possible |
| Wooden construction | ✗ Difficult to accept | ✓ Possible |
| Remote location | ✗ Often rejected | ✓ Accepted |
| Mobile home | ✗ Not possible | ✓ Possible |
| Seasonal | ✗ Not suitable | ✓ Allowed |
| liability | ✗ Close separately | ✓ Included |
🔧 Maintenance & Prevention
Prevent damage and keep your premium low with good maintenance:
- ✓ Secure windows and doors: Certified locks (SKG**)
- ✓ Outdoor lighting: Motion sensors deter burglars
- ✓ Smoke detectors: Early fire detection can limit damage
- ✓ Draining pipes: Prevent frost damage in winter
- ✓ Roof maintenance: Check roof tiles and gutters regularly
- ✓ No valuables: Take home expensive electronics
