Fire and smoke
- Whether or not the fire comes from outside
- Also damage to the garden and outbuildings
- Contents through a separate policy
- Clearance costs usually included
Wildfire · fire risk · cover in the Netherlands
Wildfires in California: what does that mean for the Netherlands?
Large wildfires abroad raise the same question for Dutch homeowners: is my home actually well insured against fire and natural forces?
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Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Natuurbranden in Californië: wat betekent dat voor Nederland?.
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 situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
The Netherlands does not have forest fires on a Californian scale, but it does have a wildfire risk: dune, heath and woodland areas burn regularly in dry summers. For a Dutch home that is not a separate insurance product. Fire is the core cover of every buildings and contents policy, whether the fire starts inside or spreads from outside. Damage from smoke and soot and damage from firefighting water are in principle covered as well.
What the Californian fires do show is how a claims burden feeds through into the market. Insurers cover their own risk with reinsurers, and that market is international. Major natural disasters elsewhere make reinsurance more expensive, and those costs ultimately come back in premiums and in stricter acceptance requirements. That is not a Dutch phenomenon but a worldwide movement.
More important for you is that not all natural forces are insured. Storm, hail, lightning strike and rainfall usually are. But flooding caused by the failure or overtopping of a primary flood defence falls outside the ordinary buildings policy, and earthquake and volcanic eruption are excluded almost everywhere. Also see which insurance policies go with buying a home.
What fire and natural damage means in the Netherlands
Three categories determine whether natural forces are covered in your case.
Storm, hail and rainfall
Covered, but often with an excess and conditions.
- Storm usually from wind force seven
- A separate excess for storm damage
- Rainfall entering through the roof
- Not: water through open windows or doors
Large-scale natural forces
Some disasters cannot be insured under an ordinary policy.
- Flooding from a primary flood defence
- Earthquake and volcanic eruption
- Nuclear reaction and acts of war
- Separate natural disaster cover sometimes available
What is covered
| Situation | Buildings | Home contents |
|---|---|---|
| Fire damage to the building or its contents | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke and soot damage without open flame | Yes | Yes |
| Firefighting water damage after a fire nearby | Yes | Yes |
| Storm and hail damage | Yes | Provided that |
| Flooding caused by the failure of a primary flood defence | No | No |
| Earthquake and volcanic eruption | No | No |
What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
What you can take from it yourself
Two lessons that really are applicable to a Dutch home.
Underinsurance is the real problem in a total loss
In a fire that destroys a home completely, it only becomes clear then whether the sum insured is right. If it has stood still while building costs have risen, underinsurance arises and the insurer pays proportionately less. Check whether your policy has guarantee against underinsurance and whether the rebuild value is still up to date after refurbishment. For an unusual property, a valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code the value for a fixed period.
What is excluded in any event
Even a wide policy has firm limits. Still excluded is damage from intent or recklessness under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code, damage caused by deferred maintenance, wear and tear or construction faults, and flooding from the failure of a primary flood defence, earthquake and nuclear reactions. If a loss occurs, report it as soon as reasonably possible, as Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires, and keep evidence: photographs, purchase invoices and the fire service report.
What does your premium depend on?
- Rebuild value — the main basis for calculation
- Construction type and roof covering — thatch and timber increase the fire risk
- Location — close to woodland, dunes or heath
- Fire prevention — smoke alarms and firefighting equipment
- Type of cover — extended or comprehensive
- Excess — also separately for storm
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
Is a wildfire in the Netherlands covered under my buildings policy?
Yes, fire is the core cover of every buildings and contents policy. Whether the fire starts indoors or spreads in from woodland or heath makes no difference to the cover. Smoke, soot and firefighting water damage are included too, as are clearance costs. What does count is whether the sum insured is enough to rebuild the home completely.
Will my premiums rise because of disasters abroad?
Indirectly they may. Dutch insurers reinsure their risk on an international market. If that market becomes more expensive because of major natural disasters anywhere in the world, that feeds through over time into rates and into stricter acceptance requirements. The biggest driver of premium increases in the Netherlands, however, remains the indexation of rebuild values as building costs rise.
Can I insure against flooding?
Not under the ordinary buildings policy. Flooding caused by a primary flood defence failing or overflowing is excluded as standard; government rules on compensation for disasters exist for that. Water damage from heavy rainfall that does not result from a breach is covered by some insurers or can be added. Read the definitions of flooding and water damage in your conditions; the two differ considerably.
What can I do myself to reduce the fire risk?
Make sure there are working smoke alarms on every floor, have the electrical installation and the chimney checked periodically, and keep combustible material away from the facade and the shed. With a thatched roof, additional requirements often apply to lightning protection and the chimney. Also keep an up-to-date inventory with photographs outside the house or in the cloud; that makes settling a claim after a total loss considerably easier.
Read more
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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.
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This page was written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.