On or off the piste
- Marked routes: often yes
- Open slopes: excluded
- Glacier: assessed separately
Spring snow · off-piste · wet avalanches
Firn blaettern and your insurance
Firn blaettern is skiing on spring snow away from the marked piste. Insurers look not at the type of snow but at the terrain, and that makes it a mountain sport.
- several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
- AFM licence 12016589
- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Firn blaettern en uw verzekering.
Calculate your premium or request a quote
Without obligation; a reply within one working day.
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
Firn is spring snow: frozen at night, thawing during the day. Anyone skiing on it sets out early and wants to be back before midday, because as soon as the sun gets to it the snow becomes heavy and the risk of wet avalanches increases. The routes lead away from the marked piste and sometimes across a glacier.
For your policy that is decisive. The winter sports module is written for the an open, prepared piste; everything beyond it falls under the exclusion for mountain sports off the beaten track. Some insurers will include it, usually on declaration of the routes and on condition that you go with a guide or in an experienced group.
What is covered in firn blaettern?
Three things determine your cover: the terrain, the time of day and the equipment you take with you.
Starting early
Firn changes from firm to slushy in the course of the day.
- Plan the descent before it warms up
- Follow the avalanche bulletin
- Break off the tour if in doubt
Avalanche equipment
Insurers often set this as a condition of acceptance.
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
- Rope and crampons on the glacier
- Working means of communication
What is covered
| Situation | Standard | With extension |
|---|---|---|
| Ski touring on marked routes within the ski area | Provided that | Yes |
| Firn slopes off-piste, without a glacier | No | Yes |
| Tours across a glacier with rope and crampons | No | Provided that |
| Search, rescue and recovery costs in the high mountains | No | Yes |
| Skiing during an avalanche warning or in a closed area | No | No |
| Setting out without the prescribed avalanche equipment | No | No |
What is actually covered is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
Where things go wrong in practice
Two points that determine whether your policy pays after an accident in the mountains.
The name of the sport appears in no policy
Conditions speak of ski touring, off-piste or mountain sports away from marked routes, not of firn blaettern. So have what you actually do described: skiing away from the marked piste, with or without a glacier, with or without a guide. On entering into the contract, the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Codeapplies; too vague a declaration can cost you the payout (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code).
The afternoon risk is a behavioural risk
With firn, wet avalanches mainly break loose after it has warmed up. Anyone who descends despite a published warning or a closed area faces Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code: intent and recklessness are not covered, even if the sport is included. In the event of an accident, call the emergency assistance centre first and report the incident as soon as reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
What does your premium depend on?
- Grounds — marked route or open slope
- A glacier on the route — crevasse risk weighs heavily
- Guidance — mountain guide or your own group
- Purpose and amount — the Alps or high mountains elsewhere
- Duration of the trip — a single tour or a whole spring
- Sums insured — above all for rescue costs and disability
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 skiing on firn the same as off-piste?
As far as the policy is concerned, yes. The type of snow is irrelevant; what matters is skiing away from the marked and open piste. That falls under the exclusion for mountain sports away from marked routes, even on spring slopes that look calm.
What does a recovery cost if nothing has been arranged?
That depends on what is deployed, but helicopter recovery in the high mountains is expensive and is charged on the spot. Without cover you pay that yourself, including transport to a hospital and any journey home.
Does a mountain guide help with acceptance?
Often, yes. Insurers that include ski touring usually require you to go with a recognised guide and to carry the usual avalanche equipment. Have that condition confirmed in writing in advance, including which tours it covers.
Does this also apply to a day tour near the ski area?
Yes, even a short descent beside the piste counts as off-piste. Doing it just once is no exception to the exclusion. If you stay on marked ski routes within the area, the chance of cover is greater, but check the wording.
Read more
Similar pages
Also relevant
Are you going skiing on firn?
Have it confirmed before you travel which terrain is included; we will find out which insurer accepts it.
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 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.